A pair of George III stained beechwood armchairs in the manner of John Linnell circa 1780

Originally gilded or japanned.

The first with springing and later corner blocks; small chip to carving of left hand hold; chip to finial of caved urn on center of seat apron; areas of old worm to the frame of the backrest and to the seat rails; slight separation and old glue at joins of armrests and backrests. The second chair with slight separation at lines of construction of cresting rail and stiles with subsequent small losses; right armrest slightly loose at join with backrest; separation at line of construction between left armrest and backrest with small loss to carving; small splits and chips to back of bottom rail of backrest at joins with stiles; old repaired breaks to right armrest support at join with armrest and above join with seat rail, and with a replaced section to the fluting on the right side edge; the bottom section of the central tablet of the front apron replaced; loss to left corner of apron; back left leg with chip to the top molded edge at join with apron; old worm to apon, seat rails and to armrest supports. Overall restored condition; originally gilded or japanned; slightly delicate; springing to seats; seat over-stuffed; later corner blocks; appears to be constructed in the French fashion with pegs to the joins and to the backrest; overall with rubbing and wear to the carving; areas of old worm; scuffs, nicks and chips.
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.

A drawing by Robert Adam for a Design of a Chair for the Bed Chamber at Osterly [sic] dated April 24, 1777, is illustrated, P. Ward-Jackson, English Furniture Designs of the 18^th Century, London: HMSO, 1958, fig. 220.  The design for the Osterley chair (one of a set listed in the 1782 inventory as Six Cabriole Chairs richly Carved and gilt in burnish Gold covered with green Velvet flannel and serge cases to ditto) is of similar form to the present chairs, differing most significantly in the ribbon-carved oval to the top rail and the winged sphinx supports for the backrest, but sharing the guilloche-carved oval backrest, padded armrests, acanthus-carved scrolled handholds, husk- and acanthus-carved arm supports, fluted legs headed by long leaves and ending in reeded melon-form feet; see Macquoid and Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London: Country Life, 1954, rev. edn. vol. I, p. 290, fig. 204.  One specific aspect of these chairs relates to a set of armchairs and settees made by John Linnell (who supplied much of the furniture at Osterley Park): an armchair chair with a fluted seat rail centered by a similar stepped central panel draped urn, based on a drawing by Linnell, circa 1768-1770, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, is illustrated, M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London: HMSO, 1982, p. 110-111, cat. No. N/9.  A suite of giltwood armchairs after Linnell's drawing are at No. 10 Downing Street, London, one of which was used in the official portrait of the former Prime minister (now Baroness) Margaret Thatcher.

Of note, the chairs are constructed in the French manner, the cresting rail joined vertically to the stiles and pegged, the legs and seat rails also pegged.