A pair of George III mahogany library armchairs circa 1760, attributed to Paul Saunders

the serpentine backs, padded arms and seats covered in nailed 18th century needlework decorated with flower filled vases and birds amongst sprays of flowers, the scrolled and acanthus carved arms with fluted downswept supports, the conforming front cabriole legs with cabochon motifs to the knees, the rear cabriole legs of plain form

Sir Martyn Beckett, Bt., M.C., sold Sotheby's London, 13 March, 1959, lot 147 

Sotheby's 215th Season, 1958-1959, p. 46 (One armchair from a set of four)

Good overall condition. Both with later springing to seats. Needlework of varying colours between the two chairs and with minor differences in design. General minor old marks scratches, small chips and wear consistent with age. Chair 1 (darker coloured upholstery) with old repair to top inner front right leg and rear left ear bracket. Minor age cracks to the front left ear bracket. Chair 2 Age cracks to tops of both front legs in the region of the ear brackets. Rear left leg with old plugged repair.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A further pair of armchairs from the same suite sold Sotheby's London, 7 November 1997, lot 42.

The legs on the present armchairs are of the same design as those on a set of side chairs, almost certainly supplied by Paul Saunders, circa 1757 for Holkham, Norfolk (see Anthony Coleridge, Chippendale Furniture, 1968, pl. 379). Another chair from the same Holkham suite is illustrated in John Cornforth, Holkham Hall, Norfolk-IV, Country Life, February 14, 1980, p. 431, fig. 14. A pair of armchairs, also of the same pattern, attributed to Paul Saunders sold Christie's London, Longleat House, 13 June 2002, lot 338. The design of the armchairs here and the comparable examples above relate to a `French' chair pattern published in the third edition of The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1762 (pl. XIX).  The basis for the attribution of the Longleat armchairs to Saunders besides the strikingly similarites with the Holkham furniture, illustrated Coleridge, op. cit., pl. 379, lies in evidence provided by payments to Paul Saunders, of £556 15s in November 1757 and £300 in November 1959, recorded in the 3rd Viscount Weymouth's bank account at Drummonds (See C. Cator, `Works of Art from Longleat', Christie's International Magazine, May/June 2002, pp. 69-78).

Paul Saunders formed a partnership with George Smith Bradshaw circa 1751and remained together until 1758. Bradshaw continued running the business from premises in Greek Street, London having taken-on John Mayhew as his apprentice two years earlier while Saunders moved to Soho Square with William Ince as his partner.