AN IMPORTANT SET OF FOURTEEN GEORGE II CARVED MAHOGANY CHAIRS circa 1750

including twelve side chairs and two armchairs, each with a double arched crest rail rising from plain uprights and continuing to C-scrolls, the corners ornamented with scallop shelves and the center also with a scallop shell above a pendant rope with a tassel above a pierced lyre form splat, the drop in seats within solid seat rails with a shaped front apron and sides, the cabriole legs with carved shells at the knees within plain brackets, and supported on plain pad toes, the back legs turned and out swept, the molded arms with scrolled terminals and incurved supports.

Overall in very good untouched condition with old faded mellow color with a waxed surface. Usual old scratches and scuffs overall commensurate with age. The carving still retaining its crisp surface with some soft rubbing to the extremities. Some old age cracks throughout also with some age cracks following the construction. Some cracking to the 'shoes' at the base of the splats. Two chairs each lacking a molded side bracket. Some interior corner blocks later and one lacking. One rear foot with old replaced crack at the toe. Drop-in seat frames later. The arms with later screws to the supports, one now with dowelled joint to the front legs and seat rails.
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.

This fine set of chairs, with their crisply carved scallop shell ornament and shaped pierced backs with pendant tassels, have certain elements of their construction and design which almost certainly indicate that they were made by a craftsman working in the north of England. R. W. Symonds in Masterieces of English Furniture and Clocks, London, 1940, notes that 'Chairs made in the first half of the 18^th century in the northern counties of England...have certain characteristics of design, such as ... round stump back legs, and a shaped front seat rail either plain or decorated with carving'. Illustrating a chair of this type, he continues that it has 'stump back legs, a heavily shaped seat rail and workmanship and material of good quality', attributes which can be certainly be ascribed to the present chairs. An interesting feature, which should be noted, is that the pierced back splats of these chairs are laminated, the sections being glued and held together with very fine wooden pegs.