Sofa
1805 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This couch, of Classical form with animal legs, is typical of early 19th-century fashionable furniture. It was part of a large set of seat furniture, which included a second couch, six armchairs, a window seat and two sofas. The pair of couches may have been placed facing one other to either side of a fireplace, with the higher end against the wall.
Time
Classical designs, like this couch, were very fashionable from around 1800-1810. In 1803 the designer Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806) published a design for a 'Grecian Squab', or Classical couch, in The Cabinet Dictionary, an influential source for furniture makers and their clients. In 1805 Gillow & Co. of Lancaster and London made this example for the Reverend Edward Hughes and another couch for the Marquess of Sligo.
People
The Reverend Edward Hughes (1738-1815) became a wealthy man through exploitation of a copper mine on the Parys Mountain, Anglesey, which he partly owned. He commissioned the architect Samuel Wyatt (1737-1807) to design Kinmel Park, Denbighshire, Wales for him (built 1790-1810), and subsequently ordered a large set of seat furniture, including this couch, from Gillow & Co. for his new house.
This couch, of Classical form with animal legs, is typical of early 19th-century fashionable furniture. It was part of a large set of seat furniture, which included a second couch, six armchairs, a window seat and two sofas. The pair of couches may have been placed facing one other to either side of a fireplace, with the higher end against the wall.
Time
Classical designs, like this couch, were very fashionable from around 1800-1810. In 1803 the designer Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806) published a design for a 'Grecian Squab', or Classical couch, in The Cabinet Dictionary, an influential source for furniture makers and their clients. In 1805 Gillow & Co. of Lancaster and London made this example for the Reverend Edward Hughes and another couch for the Marquess of Sligo.
People
The Reverend Edward Hughes (1738-1815) became a wealthy man through exploitation of a copper mine on the Parys Mountain, Anglesey, which he partly owned. He commissioned the architect Samuel Wyatt (1737-1807) to design Kinmel Park, Denbighshire, Wales for him (built 1790-1810), and subsequently ordered a large set of seat furniture, including this couch, from Gillow & Co. for his new house.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Materials and techniques | Beechwood, carved and gilded, with replacement upholstery |
| Brief description | Sofa, English, 1805 Gillow & Co. for Kinmel Park, gilded beech |
| Physical description | Carved and gilded beech sofa with a curved back framed between uprights formed as Egyptian-style lion terminals, carved with lotus leaf and finishing in legs with articulated sinews and paw feet. The scrolled end opposite is carved with lion masks in profile and has similar legs. On one side is a curved rest decorated, like the seat rail, with vertical beading. The couch is padded and covered with a modern replica silk. There is a long squat cushion and a bolster at the head. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by the firm of Heaton Tabb & Co. |
| Object history | Made by Gillow & Co., London; for the drawing room at Kinmel Park, Denbighshire |
| Summary | Object Type This couch, of Classical form with animal legs, is typical of early 19th-century fashionable furniture. It was part of a large set of seat furniture, which included a second couch, six armchairs, a window seat and two sofas. The pair of couches may have been placed facing one other to either side of a fireplace, with the higher end against the wall. Time Classical designs, like this couch, were very fashionable from around 1800-1810. In 1803 the designer Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806) published a design for a 'Grecian Squab', or Classical couch, in The Cabinet Dictionary, an influential source for furniture makers and their clients. In 1805 Gillow & Co. of Lancaster and London made this example for the Reverend Edward Hughes and another couch for the Marquess of Sligo. People The Reverend Edward Hughes (1738-1815) became a wealthy man through exploitation of a copper mine on the Parys Mountain, Anglesey, which he partly owned. He commissioned the architect Samuel Wyatt (1737-1807) to design Kinmel Park, Denbighshire, Wales for him (built 1790-1810), and subsequently ordered a large set of seat furniture, including this couch, from Gillow & Co. for his new house. |
| Bibliographic reference | Ralph Edwards and Margaret Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers (London: Country Life Ltd, 1944), p. and plate 146. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.38:1 to 4-1930 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
