A late George II mahogany armchair circa 1755, attributed to John Gordon

the arched rectangular padded back and arms with a later sprung seat with imbricated arm supports and conformingly carved shaped seat rails centered by rosettes, the legs carved with bell-flowers to the knees and with acanthus scrolled toes

Possibly supplied to George, Duke of Montagu (d.1790) for Ditton Park, Thames Ditton, Surrey and by descent to John, 2nd Baron Montagu (d.1929), Ditton Park, Thames Ditton, Surrey.

Mallett of Bath, London.

H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, n.d.,  vol. II, fig. 392.

D. Nickerson, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1963, p. 59, fig. 62 (a settee from the suite).

A. Coleridge, Chippendale Furniture, London, 1968, fig. 88.

Victoria and Albert Museum, English Chairs, Third Edition, London, 1970, fig. 74. 

L. Synge, Great English Furniture, London, 1991, fig. 131, p.117.

Overall in an excellent condition. The frame very finely carved and displaying superb colour and patination. There is a small chip to the left side of the left arm terminal and a small crack to the right terminal. Some very small chips to the frame. The seat now sprung. Late angle blocks to inside of frame. Small age cracks and chips to feet around caster wells. Small loss to one caster plate. The casters possibly original. Deep score mark to rear of front left foot. For further information on this Lot, please contact the English Furniture Department on 00 44 (0) 207 293-5470.
"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 chair is attributed to the Westminster cabinet-maker, John Gordon of Swallow Street, who may have been related to the early 18th Century Edinburgh cabinet-makers of that name. In the late 1740s Gordon adopted a chair, supported by Apollo's sacred griffin, for his shop-sign, when trading as 'LANDALL & GORDON, Street by Swallow Street'. It seems likely that he was also in partnership with William Gordon, who responded to Thomas Chippendale's 1753 advertisement for subscribers to `A New Book of Designs of Household Furniture in the GOTHIC, CHINESE and MODERN TASTE'.

A set of eight side chairs of matching design were supplied to the Scottish Castle of Blair Atholl, Perthshire for James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl (d. 1764).  It was listed in 1756 as:- '8 Mahogany Chairs, Carv'd frames in fish scales, with a French foot & carv'd leaf upon the toe'. The total cost of around £31 included a charge of (£2.5.0. for 'making an addition to your Grace's [the Duchess's] needlework'.  The same 'Atholl' pattern was chosen for a suite of seat-furniture, comprising some twenty four armchairs and two settees, recorded in the possession of John, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (d.1929). At this period they decorated the corridors of Ditton Park, Berkshire. They may have been part of the furnishings introduced to the earlier house at Ditton by George Brudenell, 4th Earl of Cardigan (d.1790), who was created 3rd Duke of Montagu in 1766; and to have been amongst the quantity of furniture reported as being saved from a fire at the house in 1812. In the early 20th century the suite was in the possession of Messrs. Mallett of Bath; and an armchair was illustrated in H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1910, vol. II, fig. 392. Part of the suite, comprising the two settees and eight armchairs, was acquired by Arthur S. Vernay, Inc. New York and sold in The Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. sale at Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 6 and 7 May 1960, lots 520-525. A pair of chairs from this suite was sold, The Property of a Gentleman, Christie's London, 8 July 1999, lot 25,  and another pair were sold from The Charsky Collection, Christie's New York, 17 October 2003, lot 196. A further pair of armchairs from this suite was presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum London, in 1962.