Although the original commission of these exceptional chairs is not known, they relate very closely to chairs supplied by Thomas Chippendale. In particular reference can be made to the armchairs, originally a set of eighteen, supplied by Chippendale to John Parker for the drawing room at Saltram. The shape of the backs and their carving with the honeysuckle crest detailing and foliate frames, the shape of the armrest terminals, the exaggerated front seat corners, the fluted seat frames and the design and detailing of the legs are all extremely close - if not identical. Chippendale is known to have supplied his clients with permutations of the same overall design - and this is most likely the case with these chairs - almost identical, but with subtle differences.  Another closely related suite is that supplied by Chippendale to Edwin Lascelles for Harewood House.

C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, p.110, pl. 118 (for the Saltram suite)
C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, p.111, pl. 190 (for the Harewood suite)