A pair of George III mahogany hall benches in the manner of Marsh & Tatham

A pair of George III mahogany hall benches in the manner of Marsh & Tatham, each of long rectangular form with scroll ends carved on one side with roundels, raised on square section tapering and fluted legs terminating in spade feet, one inscribed in pencil Lord S…, 5 rails replaced.  English, circa 1810.

See Thomas Hope’s Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807 for the origins of these design elements. In Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808, George Smith, ( who described himself as ‘Upholder Extraordinary to His Royal Excellency the Prince of Wales’) extols ‘the great taste and elegance’ of this ornament and design.

William Marsh (active 1775-1810) and Thomas Tatham (1763-1818) formed a very successful partnership in Mount Street, Mayfair. They carried out major commissions, as cabinetmakers and upholsterers, for many aristocratic patrons including work at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton for the Prince of Wales.