A fine George II leather-upholstered mahogany window seat circa 1750

inside edge of one rail with remnants of inscription from an old paper label reading ...belongs to / Dorothy(?)... one side rail with a penciled inscription F.W.M.C. / 16/1/1917.  Lacking brackets, later leather upholstery distressed.

Overall good restored condition; the later leather upholstery in distressed condition with numerous losses; the legs appear to have a later finish but nice color; one leg with two small age cracks to the top with minor inpainting, and with two small plugs; another leg with a small repaired rectangular age cracks/tears to the top of the leg and with two small plugs; another leg with three small age cracks to the top and with a small plug; the last leg with small age cracks to top with small tear and with one small plug; the front of each leg with a small replaced rectangular patch with some inpainting; possibly once fitted with brackets to the front and sides; minor areas of old worm to corner struts and to seat rails; the molded feet each with wear and scuffs, one with a chip to one side with old inpainting.
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.

Frustratingly, only the first part of the inked inscription to the frame of this window seat is legible: This belongs to . . . .    The ink migrated from an inscribed paper label that is now lacking and left an illegible name on the next line.  Without provenance, it has not been possible to determine the origin of this window seat.  The flat foliate-carving to the legs is related to a set of chairs at Rousham Park, Oxfordshire, designed by William Kent circa 1738 and illustrated by Heywood and Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol. II, p. 36, where they are compared to a set of twelve chairs and six settees at Osterley made by John Linnell for Robert Child twenty years later.

The flat carving of the tapering legs with sunk panels and stepped block feet of the chair are similar to a pattern chair delivered to Holkham Hall, Norfolk, by William Hallett in 1738, illustrated, L. Wood, The Upholstered Furniture in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008, vol. I, p. 353, fig. 216, and another pattern chair, probably made locally, op. cit., fig. 217.  A window seat at Corsham, of related form with outscrolled sides, is illustrated, Wood, op. cit., p. 23, fig. 36; see also a sideboard table  attributed to John Cobb, C. Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, 1978, vol. II, pp. 278-280, fig. 338, with flat acanthus-carved tapering legs ending in block feet.