Giltwood & Velvet Upholstered Library Chair by Miles & Edwards

For sale, an important giltwood and charcoal velvet upholstered library chair with brass castors in the Louis Qautorze style by Miles & Edwards of 134 Oxford Street, London.

Henry Miles & John Edwards were prominent cabinet-makers trading in Oxford Street from 1822 to 1845 whereafter all the company’s undertakings were transferred to a C. Hindley. They were responsible for undertaking commissions for numerous country houses and the stamp pictured would suggest an early date due to its serial number.

 It is very rare to encounter marked furniture from this period and this piece exudes quality. They are mentioned in Christopher Gilbert’s “Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840” and have been subject to an interesting study by Felicity Mallet entitled “Miles & Edwards of London”. The records of their dealings are held at the Westminster library alongside the Gillows collection.

The original upholstery was not present so the chair has been carefully re-covered in a sumptuous charcoal velvet and some minor re-gilding has taken place.

Circa 1835