An Irish mahogany triple-chair-back settee Circa 1755

backs of claw and ball feet pierced.  Refinished, aprons once fitted with applied decoration.

Overall restored condition; overall with a dark brownish black painted wash and a later finish; small chip to top left corner of stylized shell carving; small age cracks to central cresting rail and splat and minor repaired breaks to tops of central styles at joins with cresting rail; old repaired break to right style at join with armrest; left armrest with small patch to top edge; old repaired break to top right armrest support at join to armrest; age cracks to front corners of apron, the front of apron with areas of wear above central panels possibly originally applied with carved decoration; loss to bracket of front right leg; the seats rails with some later blocks; the central left leg with old repaired break at foot and now with a metal brace; old repaired break to central right leg at ankle with claw; back left leg with old repaired break; plug to central back right splayed leg.
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 of this chair-back settee shares affinites with Irish chairs of the mid eighteenth century, illustrated, The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, 2007.  The pierced back splat follows a typical Director style but maintains a more flamboyant aesethetic typical of Irish chairs, and compares with a dining chair at Glin Castle, Co. Limerick, circa 1750-1760, op. cit. p. 209, fig. 22.  The stylized scallop shells to the cresting rail (and once possibly to the apron) and the pierced claw-and-ball feet are emblematic of Irish design.  The wide cresting rail with shell-carved ears is similar to the cresting of an armchair previously at Malahide Castle, Co. Dublin, circa 1760, illustrated, op. cit. p. 107. fig. 137.

A set of four Irish chairs with almost identical backrests was sold in these rooms, April 26, 2008, lot 29.