SOFA FROM SPENCER HOUSE, ST JAMES’S
From a suite of seat-furniture designed by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart in 1759 for the Painted Room at Spencer House.
This sofa and its pair are curved because they were designed to stand in the bowed end of the room and were therefore seen almost sideways on by anyone entering the room. The magnificent winged lions would thus have been seen to special advantage. The rest of the suite was likewise designed to stand precisely in pre-determined position in the room. The set was perhaps made by the firm of Gordon & Taitt who provided loose-covers for it in 1772.
The suite is at present on loan to Kenwood, Hampstead. [1978]
SOFA
ENGLISH; about 1759
Gilt wood, damask upholstery
Part of a set of seat furniture designed by the architect James 'Athenian' Stuart (1713-88) for the Painted Room in Spencer House, St. James's, London, for Earl Spencer (1734-83). The execution is attributed to Thomas Vardy (d.1765), carver of Grosvenor Square. An armchair (W.9-1977) en suite is also displayed in this bay. The remainder of the set is on loan to Kenwood House.
Bought with a contribution from the Brigadier Clark Fund, through the National Art-Collections Fund. [pre October 2000]