A pair of Regency ‘spoon back’ chairs, the parcel gilt rails centring a painted anthemion, standing on swept, sabre legs terminating with leaf-chased brass castors.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century, classical influence in design was gaining momentum. For cabinet-makers and furniture designers, Greek chairs of the 4th and 5th centuries BC were becoming an increasing inspiration.
This movement favoured a back leg that formed a continuous curve, and a front leg that bent forward to create a sense of balance. Thomas Hope and George Smith were both advocates of the movement and both published designs for this new form of chair in 1800 and 1801 respectively.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was an American actor, producer and decorated naval officer of World War II. A fervent Anglophile, Fairbanks spent much time in the United Kingdom, where he was well known in the highest social circles and collected English furniture avidly. He was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1949.
Fairbanks has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for motion pictures at 6318 Hollywood Boulevard, one for television at 6665 Hollywood Boulevard, and one for radio at 6710 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1969 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List.