Fine George III Giltwood Armchair attributed to François Hervé
£1,950
A fine George III giltwood armchair, the arched, upholstered back with beaded and moulded frame headed by a cartouche flanked by palm-fronds, the down-swept arms with scroll terminals on swelling supports carved with leaves and beading, the stuffed, bow-fronted seat with a seat-rail carved with fluting and beading centred by a panel of crossed palm-fronds, raised on fluted tapering legs; the seat-rail with ink inscription, possibly for an inventory as it incorporates a number, 2747
Although François Hervé (active 1781-96) worked for some of the most illustrious patrons of the period, including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Devonshire and Earl Spencer, very little is actually known about his life. Two entries in the London Directories record F. Herve, chair-maker, at 32 Johns Street off Tottenham Court Road, where he practised in partnership with John Meschain, also a chair-maker.
Hervé worked in conjunction with some of the leading architects of the day – with Carr of York at Chatsworth and, possibly, Welbeck, with James Wyatt at Heveningham, and with Henry Holland at Carlton House, Althorp and Woburn Abbey, and it is probable that the design of the seat furniture he produced was a collaborative effort between him and the architect involved, though certain design idiosyncrasies appear through much of his work, which suggests that Hervé’s input was considerable.
Some of Hervé’s designs display a certain charming gaucheness, which this armchair doesn’t show, except possibly in the slightly awkward conjunction of beading and fluting on the front seat-rail and, with its crossed palm-frond decoration, it is also reminiscent of the designs of John Linnell (1729-96) who had one of the most successful furniture workshops and retail outlets in London at 28, Berkeley Square
