This ivory armchair was made in Murshidabad, the Nawabi capital of Bengal, where in the late 18th and early 19th centuries hereditary ivory carvers applied their skills to the production of high-quality western-style furniture. This armchair is curious for the design of its arm, which loops under the top rail. This idiosyncracy is sometimes seen in early 19th-century Indian miniatures, particularly those from the Sikh court, and can also be found on surviving armchairs from India and the East Indies. The diplomat William Pitt, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan (1773-1857), acquired this piece as part of a group while in India, where he was governor-general from 1823 to 1828. According to tradition he purchased it from his predecessor, Frances, 1st Marquess Hastings.