A rare pair of Italian carved giltwood and ebonised armchairs, Lombard circa 1770

each with a rectangular padded back within a husk carved frame above straight arms on recumbent sphinx supports, above a loose cushion seat, the seat-rail carved with ribbon-tied berried laurel leaves, on leaf carved tapering legs terminating in toupie feet

Colour overall of painting less yellow and more ivory than photo, and gilding is more natural and much more attractive. The joints are sound and sturdy. There is some minor retouching to the painting and gilding and very attractive detail to carving. Re-blocked. An attractive lot in overall very good condition which can be placed immediately. A strong model and highly recommended. Measurements: H= 91 cm; W= 62 cm; D= 52 cm; Floor to seat = 47.5 cm
"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 this set can be attributed to Agostino Gerli, the celebrated international menuisier and designer active in Milan from 1769. He was apprenticed in the workshop of Honoré Guibert in Paris who was involved in the decoration of the Petit Trianon. Gerli's workshop opened in Milan, in 1769, specialized in carving and stucco decoration and became instrumental in developing and producing the most fashionable international styles. He decorated and was responsible for the interiors and furnishings of the Cusani Palace piano nobile and of the Greppi Palace, pre-1776, both of which epitomise the most important scheme of avant-garde neo-classical decoration before the arrival in Milan of Giocondo Albertolli, the other great exponent of neo-classicism.

This fine set of seat furniture (lots 70 - 72) represents the epitome of the superlative production of neo-classical Milanese seat furniture due to its elegant balanced composition, innovative design with the sphinx supports and delicate carving. Similar sets were produced by Milanese craftsmen under the direction of the most important neoclassical designers in Milan, such as Agostino Gerli, Giocondo Albertolli, Simone Cantoni and Giuseppe Levati.

This set can be compared with a group of seat furniture that can be attributed to A. Gerli and  is illustrated by Giuseppe Morazzoni in Il mobile Neoclassico Italiano pl. CCLXXI, CCLXXII, CCLXXIII, characterised by chinoiserie decoration which was highly fashionable in Milan in the 1770's. The design of the legs is similar in conception, although in the offered set the bronze patinated Egyptian cariatids have replaced the chinoiserie figures. Similar carved Egyptian cariatids can be seen on a centre table illustrated by Giuseppe Morazzoni in Il mobile Neoclassico Italiano pl.CLXXXIII.

The influence of Piranesi, such as his engraving of the Diverse Maniere d'ornare I camini, published in Rome in 1769 (sec. pl XXVI) were well known in Milan, and can be seen with the sphinxes supporting the arms, which relate to those at the base of a Piranesi chimney-piece (pl LI). The overall design of the arm supports with the superimposition of several decorative elements, pilasters, scrolls and sphinxes is a display of the Piranesi taste.

We would like to thank Dr. Giuseppe Beretti for the above footnote.