An exceptional and important set of four, circa 1835, English William IV or early Victorian period, side or breakfast chairs of Regency form having black Japanned frames with allover gilt relief chinoiserie landscape and foliate decoration, each crestrail with unique vignette, and caned seats. Attribution to Gillows of Lancaster and London given their exceptional quality and signature ‘spear’ form foot evidenced here.
Provenance:
This set was part of the original collection bequest to Yale University by alumnus and prominent lawyer, government official, and long-time president of the Chemical Foundation, Inc., Francis Patrick Garvan, honoring his wife Mabel on the occasion of their 20th wedding anniversary in 1930. Known today as the Mabel Brady Garvan Collection, it forms the core of the American Decorative Arts Collection at Yale University Art Gallery. Upon deaccession circa 1975 when the collection was condensed to American Decorative Arts only, they were acquired by an important private Connecticut collection where they have remained thence.
