AFTER A DESIGN BY MORGAN & SANDERS, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

The design for this metamorphic armchair corresponds closely to the design first published in Ackermann's Repository in July 1811 which was captioned 'This ingenious piece of furniture... manufactured at Messrs. Morgan and Sanders, Catherine-st. Strand' (S. Jones and P. Agius, Ackerman's Regency Furniture and Interiors, 1984, fig.15). This chair was 'considered the best and handsomest article ever yet invented, where two complete pieces of furniture are combined in one - an elegant and truly comfortable armchair and a set of library steps'. A related chair was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 22 January 2009 (£9,375 with premium) and a further related example was, more recently, sold by Mallett, Christie's, London, 4 June 2009, lot 42 (£10,625 with premium).