A fine set of four George III mahogany and painted hall chairs circa 1780

Repaired breaks and restorations.

Chair 1: With small old chips and nicks to the edges of the backrest and cresting; the front left leg with an old repaired break at join with the seat and a crack at the top of the leg; each front leg wit later built-up blocks to the back probably to increase stability; the back rail with extensive old worm damage; some later glue blocks. Chair 2: With small old chips and nicks to the edges of the backrest and cresting; the backrest with a vertical age crack to the bottom right corner; each back leg with an old repaired break at join with the backrest and seat rail and each with a later plug to the backrest; age crack to the foot of the back left leg; later glue blocks to the back seat rail; the seat with chips and a patch to the front left side above front left leg; patches to seat above front right leg; front left leg with an old repaired break and now with a plug to the back and a built-up glue blocks for stability; the front right leg with an old repaired break to the top and with later glue blocks to the reverse. Chair 3: with old chip to the left corner of the cresting rail of backrest; age crack beneath one plug of backrest at join with seat rail; possibly later small filler black above each back leg at join with seat rest; back right leg with old repaired break at join with seat rails; large chip to foot of back left leg; the seat with an age crack to the back left corner at join with backrest and an addition age crack in the same place to the side edge at join with backrest; seat with one age crack above each front leg. Chair 4: with chips to the corners of the cresting rail; back legs with repaired extensive breaks at join with seat rails and backrest, the back left leg with separation at join with backrest; plugs to backrest appear to be replaced and with inpainting; age cracks to seat above front left leg, the edge of seat above front left leg with an infilled and inpainted horizontal crack; replaced wedge section to seat above front right leg with an additional small patch to the edge; chip to turning of front right leg. Overall with chips, wear, scratches, scuffs and bruises overall. The painted arms to the backrests with craquelure, areas of dirt, minor wear, some bruises with some very minor small chips to painted surface, but otherwise in good and stable condition.
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 arms are those probably of Brocklehurst or Brockholes impaling Congreve-Nicholls (Congreve quartering Nicholls).  The arms of Congreve-Nicholls seems to be derived from Congreve family of Congreve, namely John Congreve of Congreve and Stretton, born 18 June, 1636 who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Nicholls, Esq. of Boycott, and had a number of children, only three of whom are listed, inter alios (among others).  The present arms probably signifies the marriage between the Brocklehurst or Brockholes family and a cadet branch of Congreve family.