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Lot 563
THE KILDARE HOUSE CHAIRS A PAIR OF CARVED GILTWOOD CHAIRS, c.1759, in the fashionable rococo style of the period, the shaped moulded backs with floral cresting, the seat frames similar, on accentuated cabriole legs with out-scrolled feet, re-gilded and upholstered in the green silk damask Provenance: Kildare (Leinster House) Dublin, commissioned by Emily, Countess of Kildare, (later Duchess of Leinster) from John Trotter of Frith Street, Soho, London. Removed either to Carton or Kilcrea Castle. Acquired (or donated to) Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham in the 20th century. A collection removed from Loreto Abbey; sold Hamilton Osborne King, 6th June 2000, lot 613 Literature: David Griffin & Caroline Pegan, Leinster House I.A.A and O.P.W, Dublin, 2000, where it is stated (the furnishing of Leinster House) about which little is known. No inventory of the contents has so far been found The I.A.A collection has some drawings of mirrors; a set of dining -room chairs were illustrated in Country Life (1926) but 'are now untraceable', chairs similar to the present lot are shown in an early photograph of the hall at Carton (I.A.A archive 1/94 CS14) 'but their present whereabouts is unknown' . The present lot was obviously part of a large set. An armchair appears in a photograph of the sitting room of Kilcrea Castle and these seem to be the same as a pair sold at Christies and which reappeared in Glin & Peill, Irish Furniture and categorised as Irish. It has not been possible to identify these chairs from the various sale catalogues which dispersed the Fitzgerald collections. The likely answer is that by the early 20th century, furniture such as the present lot was inevitably catalogued as 'French'. A George III suite of seat furniture with the same provenance as the present lot, with a Carton provenance is in the Bishops Palace Museum, Waterford. The re-discovery and reidentification of these chairs was made possible by the publication of a letter from Lady Caroline Fox to Lady Kildare dated 21 February 1759. I saw Mr Trotter to-day who says the chairs will be ready immediately but begs to know if you will have them gilt now.... With the letter is a sketch of an open armchair and a single chair, inscribed 'Mr Trotters Chair' serendipitously the measurements have been noted (presumably to help Lady Kildare ascertain the amount of silk required) and by conforming to the dimensions of the present lot confirm its Leinster House provenance. James Trotter (c.1730 - 1799) a Scot was a cabinet maker well established in Soho, London. As a major receiver of royal commissions during the 1750's, he was an obvious choice for the Countess of Kildare, no doubt recommended by her brother, the Duke of Richmond, and her sisters obviously supervised her commissions reporting to Emily in Ireland. His command of such a distinguished clientele lay, no doubt in his ability to interpret the latest fashionable taste.
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