Pair of Regency Mahogany and Parcel Gilt Arm Chairs attributed to Morel & Hughes

Pair of Regency Mahogany and Parcel Gilt Arm Chairs attributed to Morel & Hughes.

England, Circa 1805.

Each with a rectangular crestrail above a scrolled padded back and seat over a bowed seatrail, flanked by Egyptian masks on turned and partially reeded tapering legs.

This pair of chairs represents the renewed vogue for Egyptian motifs which permeated art, decorative arts and architecture during the Regency period, inspired by the archaeological discoveries made during Napoleon's military campaigns of 1798 recorded in Vivant Denon’s ‘Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Egypte, pendant les campagnes du général Bonaparte’, published in 1802.

By promoting the study of Egypt's monuments and the legacy of the ancients, Napoleon aimed to magnify his own glory. When he was defeated in Egypt in 1798 and at Trafalgar in 1805, the reflection of this legacy through Egyptian style was adopted in England to symbolise Nelson's victories in a similar way, particularly amongst royalty and other wealthy patrons.

In addition to Denon’s work, other publications contributed to the cultural popularisation of Egypt, including ‘Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt’ by C.S. Sonnini, translated from the French by Henry Hunter and printed in three illustrated volumes in 1799; ‘Nouveau voyage dans la Haute et Basse Égypte, la Syrie, le Dar-Four, oú aucune Européen n'avoit pénétré : fait depuis les années 1792 jusqu'en 1798 ; avec des notes critiques sur les ouvrages de Savary et de Volney’ by William George Browne and Jean-Henri Castéra, published in 1800. This was reflected in art and design in works by such influential figures as Charles Percier and Pierre-Franois-Lionard Fontaine in France. Thomas Hope and George Smith were amongst the English designers who incorporated Egyptian elements into their work.

See https://bifmo.furniturehistorysociety.org/entry/morel-nicholas-and-morel-hughes-robert-1790-1830 for extensive information about Morel & Hughes and their multiple commissioned executed for the great English Houses of Regency England.

Another pair of chairs which probably originally formed part of the same suite as this pair were sold at Christie’s New York, 15th April, 2005 (lot 335 US$132,000).

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