A FINE PAIR OF GEORGE III PAINTED AND PARCEL-GILT ARMCHAIRS IN THE MANNER OF MAYHEW AND INCE CIRCA 1780

Restorations, replacements.

The first chair with wear to carving of cresting, two repairs to joins of top rail with back rest frame, plugs to armrests at joins with back rest frame, some old worm to seat rails, slight separation to front right leg from front apron at lines of construction with some re-gluing, later corner blocks, the second chair with wear to carving of cresting, old repaired crack at lines of construction of top rail with back left side of back rest frame and now with a plug, slight separation to front left leg from front apron at lines of construction, replacement to right side of front apron, some old worm to seat rails, later corner blocks, overall both with chips to paint with areas of inpainting, some losses and tarnishing to gilding overall, wear to hand holds, later wash to undersides, some old marks, scratches scuffs and bruises consistent with age and use.
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.

An armchair from Syon House, Middlesex, illustrated in Macquoid and Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London: Country Life, rev. ed. 1954, vol. I, fig. 203, is almost identical to the present pair of chairs.  Almost certainly made by the London firm of Mayhew and Ince, who worked at Syon for the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, this pair of chairs also shares a characteristic found on the firm's furniture as well as that of Thomas Chippendale's workshop: cuts to the underframing for glue cramps and batten holes for securing the chair in a crate when shipped.  The difference between seat furniture made by Mayhew and Ince and that of Chippendale is the armrests of chairs made by the former firm usually are joined to the front legs whereas the armrests on Chippendale chairs are usually (but not always) joined to the side rails.

A similar pair of armchairs is illustrated, Arthur S. Vernay, Spring 1952 catalogue, p. 6