A pair of Anglo-Indian ivory side chairs circa 1780, Murshidabad

 Amin Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, 2001, pp.244-5.

Fair overall condition. Typical ivory shrinkage lines throughout. Iron re-enforcement brackets to the underside inner seat rails. Repair to seatrails of one chair to the front right corner. General wear to gilt decoration which is now quite feint. Minor lifting to the ivory seat rail veneers. Slight differences to the turning and shape of finials.
"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."

The present chairs were made in Murshidabad from the third quarter of the eigtheenth century.

This fine pair of ivory chairs are closely related to armchairs in the Royal Collection, illustrated in Jane Roberts, George III & Queen Charlotte, Patronage, Collecting and Court Taste, 2004, p.381, pl. 478 . These chairs were probably acquired by Warren Hastings ( 1732-1818) and were subsequently presented by Mrs Hastings to Queeen Charlotte, circa 1784. These chairs were sold in Queen Charlotte`s sale at Christie`s 24-26th May 1819 as lot 53, bought by Swabey (£17); they appeared again in Lord Gwndyr`s sale at Christie`s, London, 21st May 1829, lot 70 and were purchased by E.H.Baldock for King George IV, £40.

The group owned by Queen Charlotte and subsequently sold by her executors included twenty pieces of ivory seat furniture. Lot 53 was described in the sale cataloge as `A PAIR of ARM CHAIRS, of solid ivory, richly gilt, the arms terminated by carvings of tiger heads, the seats of crimson velvet'. Lot  54 was described ` A pair of DITTO CHAIRS, without arms., Lot 55 ` DITTO.'  The form of the present lot is very similar to the pair of armchairs and it is possible that it could have been either lot 54 or 55.