Chippendale chairs from Harewood sold at auction

Four chairs made by furniture designer Thomas Chippendale for one of Britain's grandest stately homes have been sold at auction for more than £350,000

The four George III armchairs from Harewood House, in Leeds, were bought for £352,800. Aa pair of "rare and important ‘conversation stools’" also by Chippendale, sold for £50,400.

The furniture was made for Harewood's owners, the Lascelles family, later the Earls of Harewood.

Harewood House Trust, the charity that runs and conserves the landmark, said funds from the sale would support the long-term sustainability of the trust.

Harewood House was built between 1759 and 1771 on the fortune made by Henry Lascelles through the slave trade.

In 1767, Chippendale, who was born in nearby Otley, received the largest and lucrative commission of his career - to furnish the newly-built house.

According to the Harewood House Trust, "Chippendale left no room at Harewood untouched, providing a vast range of furniture and soft furnishings including tables, chairs, sofas, beds, commodes, looking glasses, curtains, pelmets, wallpaper, carpets and cover."

Auction house Christie's said the sale had offered a "rare opportunity for collectors to acquire items".

The auctioneers said both the George III armchairs and conversation stools were supplied to Edwin Lascelles, 1st Baron Harewood and were "almost certainly for Lady Harewood’s dressing room".

The sale also included dozens of other items from the Lascelles collection, several of which the Harewood House Trust said were "no longer in display standard condition".

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