An important assembled set of eighteen George III mahogany dining chairs circa 1765

Some front rails replaced.

Carlton Hobbs Ltd., London

Overall good restored condition with a later dark waxy finish; comprising two sets of chairs with the identical pattern with slight differences to carving and proportions. The first set comprising two armchairs and eight side chairs; the other set comprising eight side chairs. The first armchair with small chip to molded edge of first ladder splat; small age crack to shoe; old patched repair to front right leg and join with right side stretcher. The second armchair with an old chip to the top molded edge of the first ladder splat; two small age cracks to the shoe; old repaired breaks to the handholds at join with tops of armrest support; plugs to back legs at joins with side stretchers. The first side chair with two plugs to the ends of the crusting rail above joins with styles; old repaired break to right side of crusting rail above join with right stile and with to small chips to the molded edge. The second side chair with chip to molded edge of top left corner of crusting; small chips and wear to the molded edges of the lower parts of the stiles; the bottom ladder splat with slight separation at join with left stile; old chip to molded edge of front right leg. The third side chair with chips and wear to the molded edges of the lower part of the stiles; back left leg with an old plugged repaired break at joins with back and side stretchers; chip to top left corner of front left leg; repaired chip to front left corner of front right leg. The fourth side chair with slight separation to bottom ladder splat at join with left stile; chips and wear to molded edges of lower part of stiles; age crack to back seat rail at join with back left leg. The fifth side chair with slight separation to bottom ladder splat at join with left stile; age crack to shoe; front seat rail replaced. The sixth side chair with old chip to inside molded edge of lower part of left stile; front seat rail replaced. The seventh side chair with small chip to inside molded edge of lower part of left stile; filler and glue to central stretchers at joins with side stretchers. The eight side chair with chip to inside molded edge of lower part of right stile; filler and glue to central stretcher and joins with stretcher. The ninth with chips and wear to the lower part of the stiles; age crack to back left leg at join with left stretcher. The tenth with old chip top right corner of crusting rail; small loss to crusting rail at join with left stile; chips and wear to molded edges of the lower parts of the stiles; minor age cracks to the shoe; glue and filler to the central stretcher at joins with side stretchers; old repaired break to back left break at join with left side stretcher; back seat rail with repaired nailed chip at join with back left leg. The eleventh with old repaired break to front right leg at join with stretcher. The twelfth with age crack to back left leg at join with side stretcher; old chip to right side stretcher at join with back right leg. The thirteenth with chip to molded edge of lower part of right stile; long oval plugs to front right and back right legs at joins with the side stretcher; old patched break to front left leg at join with side stretcher. The fourteenth with chips to the molded edge of the lower part of the right stile; long oval plugs to the back legs at joins with side stretchers; small plugs to back left leg underneath side stretcher. The fifteenth with old repaired break to top left corner of crusting rail at join with stile; loss to the lower molded edge of the bottom ladder splat approx. 2 in. in length; long oval plugs to back legs at joins with side stretchers. The sixteenth with old repaired break to the crusting rail at join with the crusting stile; chip to upper molded edge of the second ladder splat.
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.

The carving of the backrests of the present chairs relates to the carving of a fine ladderback armchair illustrated by Christopher Claxton Stevens and Stewart Whittington, 18th Century English Furniture, The Norman Adams Collection, Antique Collectors' Club, Woodbridge, 1983, p 61.