Supplied to John Parker, 1st Baron Boringdon (1735-1788), Saltram House;
By descent to Edmund Parker, 4th Earl Morley (1877-1951);
Property of Ian Farquhar, Esq.;
Christie's London, May 25, 1972, lot 81

Geoffrey Beard and Judith Goodison, English Furniture, 1500- 1840, Oxford, 1987, illustrated p. 176, fig. 1

One chair with traces of white and green-black painting underneath the later gilding. Minor losses and chips to gilding. Upholstery in good condition. One chair with repair to lower oval seat rail. Otherwise, all joints stable and chairs are sturdy and ready to place.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present suite of armchairs was commissioned by John Parker, 1st Baron Boringdon, for Saltram House, which was a known Chippendale commission; however, they share greater affinities with chairs by John Linnell. Both Linnell and Chippendale worked with Robert Adam and made furniture to his designs to fit within his interior design schemes. The Saltram suite, which Chippendale supplied circa 1771, is very different to the present suite of chairs in overall form and use of decorative elements. For example, the armrest supports to the chairs supplied by Chippendale join at the side seat rails behind the front legs, whereas the armrests supports on the present chairs continue into the front legs, which is often a characteristic of Linnell's production, though not exclusive to his work.  They also relate to a set of armchairs and settees made by John Linnell that feature a fluted seat rail centered by a similar stepped central panel draped urn, based on a drawing by Linnell, circa 1768-1770, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, illustrated in M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1982, p. 110-111. A suite of giltwood armchairs after Linnell's drawing are at No. 10 Downing Street, London, one of which was used in the official portrait of the former Prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Other similar pairs of chairs with the stepped central panel with draped urn were sold Sotheby's New York, April 9, 2009, lot 50 and an almost identical set with the stepped central panel and the distinctive secondary bowed supports rising from the backrest to the armrests was sold Sotheby's London, November 15, 1996, lot 51.  A further armchair which is almost identical to the present chairs is at Temple Newsam House and is illustrated in Christopher Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, London, 1978, vol. I, p. 95, no 84.

John Parker inherited his father's title and estates in 1768 and continued his mother's (Lady Catherine) work of refurbish💫ing Saltram.  After his first wife died prematurely, he married Therese Robinson, who brought a dowry of £12,000 to the marriage.  She was the sister of Thomas Robinson later Baron Grantham of Newby Park who influenced Parker g♔reatly.  In 1769, Robert Adam was commissioned to produce new designs for the saloon and the library (later the dining room).  Chippendale supplied the furniture to the saloon between 1771-1772.