A GEORGE III MAHOGANY 'COCKPEN' AMRCHAIR

A GEORGE III MAHOGANY 'COCKPEN' AMRCHAIR

IN CHINESE CHIPPENDALE STYLE, PROBABLY SCOTTISH, C.1770

with a lattice back, above a dipped seat on cluster column front legs

Catalogue Note

While the form of ‘cockpen chairs’ undoubtably has its origins in the late 18^th century, including the circular section structural elements, it is not certain where the term ‘cockpen’ derives from. There are two main schools of thought. The first is that they were first made to be placed in the family pew of the Earls of Dalhousie in the church of the parish of Cockpen. The Scottish origins of this theory are backed up by many of the earlier examples being made of laburnum, a typically Scottish wood. The second theory comes from some drawings of some pens used for cockfighting which appear to have a similar form of construction. What is less in doubt is that this form of chair was generally referred to as a ‘Chinese Chair’ with the term ‘cockpen’ probably originating in the antiques trade in the early 20^th century.