A set of fourteen George III style mahogany dining chairs 2nd quarter 19th century

in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, including a pair of armchairs, with pierced carved interlaced backs and stuffed seats on square legs joined by stretchers

Generally these chairs are in good `country house' condition. There is some uneveness to colour throughout. The seats are all rather faded and show signs of wear in attractive way. There is some minor worm to the rails and also some chairs have loose joints. Generally old marks and scratches throughout. Six chairs including one armchair are generally in good condition. One armchair is very faded to the back. Chair 1: There is a section of moulding missing from the left hand side of the front-rail. The shoe at the base of the splat is cracked. Chair 2: small repair to top-rail Chair 3: one spandral detached, joints loose, shoe cracked, top-rail cracked and repaired Chair 4: Top-rail cracked, splat cracked, strengthening rails added to inside of of rails, shoe cracked Chair 5 splat cracked and repaired, repairs to rails, on spandrel chipped Chair 6: Joints loose, leather worn Chair 7: This chair has a new break to the top-rail and cracks to the splats Measurements: Armchair: 98.5cm. high, 78cm. wide, 63cm. deep, width inside arms of seat 58cm. Side chair: 96cm. high, 60cm. wide, 62cm. deep
"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."

The design of the present set of chairs is closely based on elements taken from designs for chairs  by Thomas Chippendale in the mid-18th century published in his Directors of 1754, 1755 and 1762. Although they do not precisely copy any of his designs, the vase shaped pierced splat with carved foliate motifs seen in these chairs is typical of his rococo style. 

These rococo designs of the mid 18th century gradually fell from favour being superseded by the fashionable neo-classical style from around 1765 onwards. Around 1820 saw a revival of interest in the rococo in which King George IV was to play an important role and which can be seen in his extensive re-modelling of Windsor Castle and in other royal residences around this period. The style gained further impetus with John Weale's re-publication of designs by Lock, Johnson and Chippendale between 1833 and 1858.    

The present chairs are a very precise interpretation of this earlier rococo style. For comparison, a period armchair with a back of almost identical form is illustrated in Christopher Claxton Stevens and Stewart Whittington, 18th Century English Furniture, Suffolk, 1983, p.50. Another period chair in the collection of Percival D. Griffiths with a similar back is illustrated in Herbert Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1937, 3 vols., vol. 2, pl. 254.