A GEORGE II GILTWOOD STOOL

ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM KENT, CIRCA 1740

Details

The rectangular seat with a squab cushion, the Vitruvian scroll frieze over the central scallop shell draped with oakleaf garlands, connecting the heavily carved acanthus and husk-carved legs, re-gilt, the back legs with repaired breaks, possible alterations
20 in. (50.8 cm.) high, 36 in. (91.4 cm.) wide, 24 in. (61cm.) deep


Lot Essay

This grand and exuberantly carved stool is executed in the fashionable Palladian taste and finds its stylistic origins in the scaled contemporary Roman furniture popularized by the aristocratic purveyor of taste Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington (1694-1753) and the architect designer William Kent (1685-1748). During Kent’s 10 years in Italy, he was ‘continualy a drawing ornements & architecture & getting things’ which included five console tables which became part of the inventory for his Estate (S. Weber, ed., William Kent, Designing Georgian Britain, New Haven, 2013, p.449, p.451). Once Kent returned to England, a further source of design inspiration were the drawing libraries of John Talman, his Grand Tour traveling companion, as well as Kent’s patron, Lord Burlington. A 1714 drawing by the Italian artist Giovanni Gardini may have been a source for an earlier console table he supplied to Richard Child, 1st Earl Tylney (1680-1750) for Wanstead. With its boldly scrolled supports, a central mask and lush garlands it shares close stylistic parallel with this stool, which features a carved scallop-shell in place of a mask (Ibid, pp.450-1, figs. 17.1 and 17.3). A related pair of stools which feature ebonized elephant masks in the centers were almost certainly commissioned by Hugh, 14th Baron Clinton and 1st Earl Fortescue (d.1751) for Castle Hill, Devon, and were recently sold from The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection; Christie's, New York, 20 October 2022, lot 20.