A GEORGE II FUSTIC AND SATINWOOD SOFA

A GEORGE II FUSTIC AND SATINWOOD SOFA
ALMOST CERTAINLY DESIGNED BY JAMES 'ATHENIAN' STUART AND PROBABLY SUPPLIED BY JOHN GORDON, CIRCA 1758-65
The serpentine padded back, outscrolled arms and serpentine seat covered in green damask-pattern cut-silk velvet, the acanthus and husk-carved toprail centred by a C-scroll cresting, the scrolled arm supports carved with acanthus and with keeled foliate angles rising from a palm leaf-carved oval cartouche, the serpentine arched and fluted seat-rail with three palmflower-carved beaded reserves, the side rails similar, the back rail plain, on fluted and beaded cabriole legs each headed by a further palm-carved cartouche and with scrolled feet, restorations to the legs and carving, the back right leg replaced
40 ½ in. (103 cm.) high; 86 in. (219 cm.) wide; 36 in. (91 cm.) deep

Provenance

Supplied to John Spencer, later 1st Earl Spencer (1734-83), almost certainly for the Ground Floor Apartments at Spencer House, London.
Thence by descent to George John, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834), by whom possibly moved to the new Holland Library at Althorp House, Northamptonshire by 1814.
Thence by descent to John Poyntz, 5th Earl Spencer (1835-1910), where it is recorded in the Patchwork Bedroom by 1910 and thence by descent until sold
The Spencer House Sale; Christie’s, London, 8 July 2010, lot 1010.