A set of four Danish carved and gilded beech side chairs

A set of four Danish carved and gilded beech side chairs, mid 18th century, each shaped top rail centred by a carved shell motif, above the padded and upholstered back and seat, the seat rail centred by a carved shell motif, on tapering cabriole legs, each 119cm high, 50cm wide, 45cm deep

Provenance: Waystrode Manor, Kent

Inherited by family descent (previously purchased from Otto Berg, Copenhagen)

Purchased from a Private Collection, Denmark (The collection of Hjalmar Bruhn)

By firm repute Christiansborg Castle, Denmark

One of the chairs in this set bears the royal crest of Christian VI as well as the date 1740. Christian VI of Denmark reigned from 1730 to 1745. Christian VI was the son of Frederik VI, demonstrating a clear connection between the current set of chairs and the chair back settee (current Lot 21).

When Christian VI became Regent of Denmark and Norway in 1730, Copenhagen Castle needed to be rebuilt. Following regeneration, it became the largest castle in Northern Europe at that time. The building work on Christiansborg Castle commenced in 1733 and was finalised in 1745. The Castle was built using the very finest craftsman from across Europe and all its furnishings were specially commissioned including the furniture for the royal dining room.

As Christian VI died in 1746, he did not get to enjoy his magnificent castle for very long and the castle itself burned down in the Great Fire of 1794, less than 50 years after having been completed. Very little of the furniture and artworks survived. By repute and the evidence of the original stamps on the chairs, the surviving furnishings include the current set of chairs.