A rare set of six Anglo-Dutch carved walnut chairs in the manner of Daniel Marot second half 17th century

each with an arched pierced open back centred by a flowerhead within a roundel, with a stylised scallopshell above and below, intersected by a stylised S-scroll motif within a frame carved with flowerheads, above a trapeziod padded seat, on turned tapering front legs carved with fluting and flowerheads and turned baluster rear legs joined by an x-form stretcher centred by a turned finial, on flattened bun feet; restorations, the seats upholstered with claret coloured velvet embellished centrally with 17th century  appliqué silver and gilt-metal thread and polychrome silk thread detailed heraldic motif, with profile lions and dragons worked with couched metal-thread basket weave, around a central roundel enclosing a motif and flames 

Joints sound and sturdy. Attractive detail to carving. The stretchers to two chairs have been restored and other very minor restorations generally. In otherwise good conserved condition. A very rare set and highly recommended.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Reiner Baarsen, Nederlandse meublen 1600-1800, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam,1993, p. 74, ill. p. 75.
D. O. Kisluk-Grosheide, W. Koeppe, W. Rieder, European Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Highlights of the Collection, The Met, Yale University Press, 2006, p.75.

These chairs with their open tall backs relate very closely to the engravings of Daniel Marot (1661-1752) which in turn were based on French prototypes. In general chairs with tall carved backs were more popular in Northern Netherlands and England in the early 18th century and Marot's chairs were generally with upholstered backs. Amongst his prints for seat furniture however there are no chairs with carved pierced backs-see the engraving reproduced here in fig.1.  However, the sculptural detail of the present set of chairs is very reminicent of Marot's oeuvre and is typical of late 17th century detailed carving.

Baarsen states  op. cit., p. 74, when discussing the related chair in the Rijksmuseum reproduced here in  fig. 2, that the broad scrollwork filled with leaf motifs is strongly reminiscent of Marot's designs for textile trimmings, as on the present chairs. The baluster turned legs and the cresting of scrollwork and shell motifs on the Rijskmuseum example exemplify the Anglo-Dutch version of the Louis XIV style. Chairs with crossed stretchers and a turned finial are also seen in Marot's designs. It is not according to Baarsen,  op. cit., always possible to ascertain where these chairs with tall open backs originated.  Often made in large sets these chairs were intended to be placed along the walls of a room or long hallway and were generally decorative in function, hence their exquisite detail.

A further related example is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated by Kisluk-Grosheide, op. cit., p. 75 and reproduced here in fig. 3.

Daniel Marot:
Daniel Marot was the son of the French architect Jean Marot (1619-1679). The younger Marot became architect and designer to the stadholder of the Dutch Republic, William of Orange-Nassau (1650-1702). The former worked in the French court style and influenced the decorative arts in the Netherlands and England. His best work is known through his engravings Oeuvres de Sr. D. Marot, architecte de Guillaume III, which was published for the first time in the Hague in 1703. It was expansive and included designs from buildings to gardens, interiors, textiles, metalwork and furniture. 

X-Ray details of these chairs are available from the department upon request.