A pair of George I gilt-gesso armchairs circa 1718, attributed to James Moore

the arched padded backs and rectangular padded seats now upholstered in close-nailed olive green velvet, the shaped arms with acanthus, strapwork and flowerhead decoration terminating in eagle heads, on conformingly decorated scrolled supports, the egg and dart moulded seatrail centred by a cartouche at the front bearing the Chandos cypher, the front cabriole legs with Indian mask knees bearing feather plume head dresses flanked by paterae above bell flower decorated square sections, on shaped leaf carved feet, the conforming rear cabriole legs with acanthus decorated knees 

Probably part of the celebrated suite commissioned by James Brydges, 1^st Duke of Chandos (1673/4-1744) for Cannons, Edgware, Middlesex or his London house in St. James' Square.

Possibly part of the sale at Cannons, conducted by Mr Cock, 1^st June 1747 and for the following ten days.

In the trade circa 1972 when advertised for sale in Country Life, 28^th December 1972.

The catalogue illustration is a fair representation of colour and tone. The chairs are overall in a good structurally sound and useable condition although there is some slight movement in the joints as to be expected which could be tightened slightly. The gilding displays several different periods of gilding that have taken place during the life of these chairs. In some places there are some traces of what may be the original gilding and then there are at least two further types of gilding where the chairs have been partially restored. The overall appearance is generally pleasing. There are some small chips to the gilt revealing white gesso beneath and there is some slight unstability in areas although this is relatively minor. The underframes of the chairs have some modern screws that have been placed through the ends of the seat rails into the top of the leg blocks. Overall these are very attractive and rare chairs that would benefit from the attention of a proper gilder to address the gilding. Measurements: Top of seat to floor: 18½in., high, 21½ wide, 15½ deep Top of arms to floor: 27½in. high Overall height 43in.
"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."

This remarkable pair of chairs was probably commissioned by James Brydges, Viscount Wilton, Earl of Carnarvon and later 1^st Duke of Chandos for Cannons, Edgware or his house in St. James' Square, London.  It was for this house that he commissioned a remarkably similar suite of furniture which displays near identical carving to the seat rail, and legs, including the central cartouche bearing the opposing 'C' cypher and which most likely relates to his elevation to the Dukedom of Chandos in 1719. It is known that there is a grand pair of chairs with carved frames to the backs that was supplied to the Chapel at Cannons while the remainder of the suite, of strikingly similar form, was supplied to the 'Best Bedchamber' and the adjoining 'Dressing Room' as recorded in John Gilbert's inventory of 1725 (retained in the Huntingdon Library, California) which included a bed, four armchairs, eight side chairs and two stools. The suite from the bedroom is now at Houghton Hall, Norfolk with the exception of a pair of the armchairs that was sold in a sale of property from Houghton, Christie's London, 8 December 1994, lot 135. The pair of chairs from the Chapel, was acquired from the 1747 sale by Chomley Turner (1685-1757) for the Chapel of his great uncle Sir William Turner's Hospital, Kirkleatham, Cleveland where it remained until recently sold, Christie's London, 8 June 2006, lot 50. The 'C' cypher not only appears on the commission for the Chapel and the bed chamber but also on the staircase balustrade by Jean Montigny and is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum, New York.

Unfortunately it has not been possible to identify the chairs in John Gilbert's inventory of 1725 (published in full by Susan Jenkins, 'An Inventory if his Grace the Duke of Chandos's Seat att Cannons Taken June the 19th 1725 by John Gilbert', The Walpole Society, 2005, vol. 67, pp. 93-193) as the descriptions in the most part are very vague with the Houghton group simply referred to as 'Four Elbow chairs 8 back stools 2 square do..' and more attention paid to the coverings.