Armchair

The chair is part of a large suite, including cabinets, mirrors, daybeds and sconces made by Giles Grendey of Clerkenwell, London c1740 for export to his client the Duke of Infrantado of Lazcano Castle, near San Sebastian, Spain. There are six chairs at Temple Newsam, with other pieces scattered in collections all over the world. They are japanned in scarlet in the Oriental taste, apparently imitating lacquer, and decorated with chinoiserie figures. This highly colourful furniture was popular in the early 18th century and there was a ready market for English exports to southern Europe.

Giles Grendey was a highly successful furniture maker with extensive workshops and employed large numbers of journeymen. Unusually for English makers, he often pasted his trade label on his furniture.

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