The Chair

Creator: John Hill Jnr (1807-1870), 86 Pitt St, Sydney

Description: cedar ceremonial armchair in ‘Louis XIV’ revival style, with open arms, solid upholstered back and seat on cabriole legs, with florid carving, the back surmounted by finial with a ribbon inscribed ‘CORPORATION’, a lion crest and a crown, h 175, w 86, d 79 cm

Marks: none visible

Date: 1843

Provenance: City Corporation of Sydney, 102 York St, Sydney; sold to the Freemasons Hall Company for £27 in March 1854

Location: Masonic Centre, Sydney

LITERATURE: THE AUSTRALIAN, 17 JULY 1843; NINETEENTH CENTURY AUSTRALIAN FURNITURE P. 47

The Desk

Creator: John Hill Jnr (1907-1870), 86 Pitt St, Sydney

Description: desk, cedar and cedar veneer with plain sloping top inset with leather, the sides with applied carved foliate scrolls, the rear projection supported on carved corbels, plain cedar back, supported on four deeply carved Rococo legs joined by plain stretchers and a plain cross stretcher, h 97.5, w 92 d 95 cm, 

Marks: none visible,

Date: 1843

Provenance: City Corporation of Sydney, 102 York St, Sydney; sold to the Freemasons Hall Company for £13 in March 1854

Location: Masonic Centre, Sydney

LITERATURE: THE AUSTRALIAN, 17 JULY 1843; NINETEENTH CENTURY AUSTRALIAN FURNITURE P. 47