This assemblage of 17th century English vernacular furniture and related ceramics and works of art, catalogued for the auctioneers by specialist Victor Chinnery, had been put together by the Oliphant family over a number of years and graced both their 18th century London home close to Cheyne Walk and a second home overseas.
A particular fondness for 17th century panel-back chairs displaying distinctive regional characteristics dominated the collection, with eight examples offered in total. Singled out for most competition was this mid 17th century oak chair carved with a central palmette and the initials IM and TK which was possibly made in the West Midlands.
Square-section legs and arm supports of this kind are very rare on English armchairs (which are normally turned), although another is pictured in Tobias Jellinek's Early British Chairs and Seats (ACC, 2009), while others are recorded in early American seating furniture.
This chair, with some small areas of repair and replacement to the left arm and a rear foot, was one of a number of pieces in the Oliphant collection to retain its original receipt: it had been bought from the late London dealer Alistair Sampson for £4850 in September 1990.
Last week, estimated at £3000-5000, it was bought by a UK-based private collector for £15,000 (plus 22 per cent buyer's premium).
