Gainsborough were delighted to be approached for a very special project relating to four 19th-century Cottier & Co. chairs, three in museum collections (Victoria and Albert Museum, Glasgow Museums and National Museums Liverpool) and the fourth in a private collection in Australia. The original upholstery was Dobby-woven in deep scarlet wool, linen and gold silk. In the tiny fragment we received as reference, much of the silk had rotted away. Despite having little to work with, the finished result was outstanding with the woollen warmth contrasting stunningly with the molten gold silk.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
