A SET OF EIGHT GEORGE IV MAHOGANY AND PARCEL-GILT CANED DINING CHAIRS CIRCA 1820

comprising two armchairs and six side chairs.  Repairs, later caning.

Overall in good condition with some old marks, scatches, scuffs and bruises, some wear and minor chips to the gilding overall, some veneer patches and minor areas of inpainting around repairs, ech with later corner blocks, some drop-in seats reinforced, some old worm to seat rails and to drop-in seats, chairs "I" and "IIII" with old repaired break to top left stile at juncture with top rail and old plugged repairs to tops of front legs at juncture with seat rail, chair "II" with old repaired break to front left leg, chairs "2" and "10" with old repair to top of front left leg at juncture with seat rail, one armchair with patched and plugged repair at ends of horizontal splat, old repaired break to left stile at juncture with armrest.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The design for the present set of chairs is based on a model designed by Henry Holland for Samuel Whitbread II at Southill, Bedfordshire, of twenty years earlier, and is characteristic of furniture by Morel and Hughes as well as Morel and Seddon.  The use of finely figured rosewood together with carved gilded decoration is similar to a chair provided by Morel and Hughes for the Duke of Northumberland at Northumberland House in the early 1820s; cf. Frances Collard, Regency Furniture, 1985, p. 111, pl. 12. The suite also bears resemblance to French neoclassical style furniture supplied by Morel and Seddon for George IV at Windsor castle from 1827, particularly with the use of the same scroll and palm flower motif, found on the horizontal splats and armrests; cf. Hugh Roberts, For the Kings Pleasure, London, 2001.

The partnership of Nicholas Morel and Robert Hughes began in 1805 only three years after Morel had founded his firm at 13 Great Marlborough Street.  Hughes left the partnership possibly in 1826, though he is recorded in some directories with Morel until 1828.  Morel went into partnership with George Seddon III in 1827 possibly because Seddon had an extensive and established workshop which could accommodate the large quantity of furniture commissioned by George IV for Windsor in the late 1820s.  Seddon's firm also had a very skilled workforce, as it had itself been a very successful firm since its founding in 1753 by George Seddon I.