These antique chairs are associated with the legendary Georgiana, 5th Duchess of Devonshire. The chairs are part of a set of ten George III painted beech and caned chairs by François
Hervé. François Hervé was a French furniture maker, employed initially by the 5th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in the 1770’s at Chatsworth, Derbyshire. He also enjoyed the patronage of George, Prince of Wales and was employed at Carlton House between 1783-94 under Henry Holland's direction. Image credit: Sotheby's (www.sothebys.com)
Paint and gilt as well as lacquer continued more or less in use on antique furniture during the first half of the eighteenth century, but when the influence of Thomas Chippendale became dominant these modes of decoration greatly abated, for Chippendale was before all else a carver and relied wholly on carving for the embellishment of his work. It was not until the styles introduced by the Brothers Adam supplanted Chippendale's modes that antique painted furniture again came into high favour.
In the Empire period we frequently find, in France, England and America that paint was used as an auxiliary to the cabinetmaker's art. Antique chairs and tables were painted and then gilt ornament applied. The most usual form in which painted furniture at this period occurs is to be found in chairs and couches, especially of the caned variety. The top rails and cross rails of the back were not infrequently painted in colors and gilt on another ground color with designs of musical instruments or some pseudo-classic motif. The caned couches were painted in greys and greens and light browns and then lined in black or gold and adorned with classic designs in gold. Sometimes the gold ornamentation was so lavish it is hard to distinguish the ground color upon which it was applied.
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