A late George III polychrome decorated and parcel gilt 'Westminster' sedan chair


the painted decoration and finials probably of a later dateThe domed hinged canopy surmounted by gilt bronze acorn finials above part-glazed sash door and sides, the exterior painted with foliate scrolled and floral festooned cartouche panels and flower-filled bouquets within applied entrelac metal borders, the upper rear panel centred with the monogram: 'G' surmounted by a coronet, each lower panel with a husk swagged fringe, with bearer handles, on sleigh feet, with two later pole bearers, 69cm wide x 81cm deep x 161cm high, (27in wide x 31 1/2in deep x 63in high)
|PurchasedBonhams, Fine English Furniture and Works of Art, 13th June 2012, lot 77.Sedan chairs of the present form possibly originated in France as their name is feasibly linked to the French town of the same name. However their use elsewhere in Europe had become widespread by the mid 17th century on the evidence of the Diarist John Evelyn. During a visit to Naples on 8th February 1645 he recorded that 'The Streets are full of gallants on horseback, in coaches, and sedans,'Simultaneously in London, sedans were also operated under license on a commercial basis where they could negotiate narrow streets more effectively than carriages. Design sources include those by Robert Adam who published a pattern for Sedan Chair for Queen Charlotte in 1775 and Giovanni Battista Piranesi who included engravings for a sedan in Diverse Maniere d'adornare I cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi desunte dall' architettura Egizia produced between the 1760 and the mid 1770s.Although the popularity of this mode of transport had declined by the end of the 18th century, its use continued in isolated towns associated with invalids such as Bath and Tunbridge Wells where it was particularly suited for conveying infirm occupants up flights of stairs.