Extremely Fine George III Hepplewhite Shield Backed Chair c. 1780

A really exceptional quality solid rosewood chair of Hepplewhite design with a very elaborately carved shield back and fine leaf carving to the arm supportsand tops of the front legs. The ring turned and bulb feet are also a distinctive Hepplewhite design.

George Hepplewhite was born in 1727 and died in 1786. Very little is known about his life other than that he established himself as a furniture designer and cabinet maker. No single piece of furniture has ever been definitively attributed to his hand and after his death his widow Alice published 300 of his drawings under the name of A. Hepplewhite & Co., Cabinet Makers.

The publication was later revised and re-printed as ‘The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide’. It was hugely popular and Hepplewhite’s designs were copied both by City and Provincial makers. Wealthy clients would commission pieces made to designs in the book.

The fashions of the late 18th century owed much to the neoclassicism of Robert Adam’s designs and much of Hepplewhite’s work reflects this. The recommended dimensions of he gives for shield back chairs closely match those of this rare and beautiful chair.

It was made by hand in c. 1790 and of a very fine and heavy rosewood and the exceptional quality of the wheatsheaf, leaf and roundel carving is indicative of a master cabinet maker.

A rare and extremely beautiful example with no significant faults and newly upholstered in a high quality heavyweight silk with a bronze ground and powdery silver blue 18th century pattern.