A closely matched pair of George III mahogany 'Cockpen' Chinese lattice back armchairs of broad proportions.

Scottish, c. 1770 and 1840.

Generously proportioned open armchairs, having the square open lattice backs, above the upholstered saddle seats, covered in close-nailed saffron suede, raised on moulded splayed legs, united by turned H-stretchers. Good patina, minor variations to dimensions.

These chairs are typical exemples of the 'Chinese' fashion for furniture, popular in the 18th century. The lattice back derives from the patterns published in W. Halfpenny's ‘Twenty New Designs of Chinese Lattice’ (1750). The origin of this characteristically Scottish 'cockpen' chair possibly relates to the village of Cockpen in Midlothian: the family pew of the Earls and Marquesses of Dalhousie in Cockpen church used to contain examples of this form of chair. This design proved so popular that it had remained in vogue for over a hundred years.

Literature:

Ralph Edwards and Percy Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1954, vol. 1, p. 285, fig. 188. 
Christopher Claxton Stevens, 18th Century English Furniture, The Norman Adams Collection, 1983, p. 57.

For related pair see Sotheby's, 17 October, 2015, Lot 576 ($21,250).