A pair of William IV Masonic giltwood armchairs, 1833, by John Connop
Live auction begins on:
November 19, 01:30 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 9,000 GBP
Bid
3,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
the high backs flanked with engaged fluted columns and with a panel centred by a plumb level and a plumb line respectively, the back, arms and seat upholstered in claret-coloured leather, the seat rail carved to imitate fringing, on fluted tapering front legs
136cm high;
53 ½ in.
Presented to the Old Union Lodge in January 1833 by fifteen junior members;
Old Union Lodge, no.46;
Christie's London, 30th January 1986, lots 66 and 67;
Phillips London, 18 June 1991, lot 115.
These highly unusual chairs are en suite with a Master's chair that is in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, W.70-1982. This V&A example has been the subject of an article in the newsletter of the Furniture History Society1 and was created by John Connop, whose trade card describes him as a "Carver & Gilder / Looking Glass and / Picture Frame Maker" based in Aldersgate (Banks,32.12). The records for the 12th April 1814 note that "a New Chair for our R. W. M. was indispensible" and so "Bro. Connop" made the chair, which was worth £20 and with which "the Brethren [were] much pleased" on account of its "elegance".2 These present two chairs, which feature the plumb level to symbolise equality and the plumb line to represent an upright sense of virtue, were presented to the lodge by fifteen junior members in 1833.
1 C. Graham, 'A Masonic Chair Made by John Connop in 1814', Furniture History Society Newsletter, no. 92, November 1988.
2 Ibid.
