This chair belongs to the large set commissioned by Sir Robert Walpole, England's first prime minister, for the State Apartment at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. The house was built between 1722 and 1735, and the State Apartment was furnished by about 1732. The seat furniture is carved naturalistically with lion's masks and legs, and gilded on a ground made gritty with sand. The covers are of green velvet, to match the State Bed designed by William Kent.
Although this set of chairs is very different in style from the suite in the Second State Apartment at Houghton (V&A Museum nos W.1-22-2002), it may be by the same maker, possibly Thomas Roberts junior, who is known to have worked for Walpole. The same rather distinctive striped ticking is used for the upholstery foundation.
On loan to Houghton Hall.