A Fine set of twelve George III mahogany armchairs circa 1780

Restorations and repairs.

Overall the suite of chairs is in good restored condition, with crisp carving and elegant lines, and with the usual small nicks and chips to extremities of carvings and with old marks, scratches, scuffs, and bruises consistent with age and use, some struts replaced. Chair one with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at joins with stiles and with a wooden tennon to each side and with a metal brace to the back of each with four screws; small section of beading to cresting rail at join with left stile possibly replaced; repaired cracks to bases of slats; old break to right handhold now slightly loose and with subsequent chips to carving; small age crack to left handhold at join with armrest support. Chair two with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at join with stiles and each now with a metal brace; base of left slat slightly loose. Chair three with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at join with left slat now with a tennon to the side and a metal brace to the back; the central slat with an old repaired break now with a metal brace at join with cresting rail; the left slat with old repaired break above the patera and now with a metal brace to the back and old repaired break to the base; old repaired break to right stile at join with cresting rail now with a tennon to the side and a metal brace to the back; old repaired break to left stile at join with armrest with loss to one bead and with metal brace to back; each handhold with small plug at join with armrest support; left handhold with old repaired crack; the back rail with a plug to underside at join with each back leg; the left side rail with peg to underside at join with back right leg; old glue to front legs at joins with rail. Chair four with old repaired break to top of armrest at join with left stile and now with two plugs; plug to right handhold at join with armrest support; old repaired break to left handhold at join with armrest support and with small chip to underside. Chair five with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at joins with stiles each with two metal braces to the backs; the left end of the cresting rail with two large chips to the carving; central slat and right slat with old repaired breaks to bases; top of left armrest with old repaired break at join with left stile. Chair six with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at join with left slat and at join with stile; top of left armrest with old repaired break at join with stile; small repaired chip to underside of left handhold at join with armrest support. Chair seven with repaired crack to top of left stile at join with cresting rail; chip to top left armrest at join with stile; age crack to top of right armrest at join with stile; old repaired breaks to handholds at joins with armrest supports; front left leg with old repaired break now with three screws to back and with losses to moldings of lower part of leg and slightly loose. Chair eight with old repaired breaks to left stile at joins with base of backrest and with armrest which has an old repaired break to the top edge; the right armrest with old repaired breaks to top edge at join with right stile and now with a plug; old repaired breaks to handholds at joins with armrest supports; the left armrest support with old repaired break to top edge; front left leg with old repaired break at top; the underside now with four later corner blocks; the back left leg with old repaired cracks and with subsequent cracks to underside of rail at join; small patch to back rail. Chair nine with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at join with left slat and at joins with stiles now with tennons to the back; old repaired break to left handhold at join with armrest now with a plug; old repaired break to base of right handhold at join with armrest support; the underside now with four later corner blocks; the underside of each side rail with a peg at join with back legs with subsequent small chips to rail. Chair ten with old repaired chip to cresting rail at join with right stile; old repaired breaks to bottom rail of backrest at join with stiles; top of left slat with old repaired break to back; small patch to interior side of left armrest at join with stile; old repaired break to left stile at join with armrest and with subsequent small chips to beading; left handhold possibly replaced; front seat rail with old repaired break to right side; the back seat rail with peg at join with back right leg. Chair eleven with old repaired break to top of central slat at back and with two small nails; old repaired break to right handhold at join with armrest and with small patch to top edge. Chair twelve with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at join with right slat and at join with right stile now with a metal brace to back; old repaired break to left stile at join with cresting rail now with two small screws and plug; top of right slat with old repaired break at join with cresting rail; small crack to left armrest at join with stile; old repaired break to top of left armrest support at join with handhold and now with a plug; old repaired chip to top edge of right armrest at join with stile; the back and right seat rails each with a peg at join with back right 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 present set of twelve chairs, their backs with exceptionally finely detailed carving, would have originally been intended to be placed in a drawing room, and were probably part of a larger suite which would have included sofas and stools, and possibly side chairs. It is identical to a un-provenanced arm chair now in the collection of Temple Newsam House Leeds (See; Christopher Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, 1978, Vol. I, pp. 93, 94, number 83), and closely related to a set of six side chairs and two arm chairs formerly with M. Harris and Sons, London (See: A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works o Decorative Arts, c. 1930, part III, F15340, p. 336), and to a single arm chair, formerly in the Collection of J. Thursby Pelham (See: Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, 1953, Vol. I, p. 299, fig. 233). Although no printed or manuscript design has been traced for the chairs, they may particularly be compared to the published work of A. Hepplewhite, The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide  (1788, 1793,1794), and to the manuscript designs of Gillows of Lancaster (See: Lindsay Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, 1995)

Cf. a related suite of George III mahogany furniture comprising fourteen open armchairs, two settees and two window seats, sold by Mrs. J. A. Wolseley and made for her ancestor, Sir John Trevelyan, 4^th Bart. (1735-1828), of Nettlecombe Court, Somerset, sold, Christie's, London, December 12, 1957, lot 70.