A fine pair of Chinese Export parcel-gilt black lacquer armchairs Qing Dynasty, Mid-18th Century

each with a yoke crested pierced paneled back flanked by flat serpentine arms on C-scroll supports, above a seat with original gilt-decorated leather covered drop-in cushion seat, on cabriole legs joined by a turned H-form stretcher terminating in pad feet; each with a printed paper label to the rail HENRY J. HATFIELD,/ GENERAL/Fine Art Manufacturer/AND/Renovator of Old Work,/86,CHARLOTTE STREET,/FITZROY SQUARE, W.

Almost certainly supplied to Sir Francis Greville, 8th Baron Brooke, later Ist Earl of Warwick for Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
Property of the Trustees of the Warwick Castle Resettlement, Sold Christie's, London, March 21, 1968, lot 108
Fleming & Meers, Washington, D.C.

Flemming & Meers, 'Exhibition of 18th Century English Chairs', 1985

Illustrated, 'Warwick Castle, II', Country Life, June 6, 1914, p. 849

Flemming & Meers, Handbook, 'Exhibition of 18th Century English Chairs', 1985, p. 12

Overall very good condition; chairs structurally stable; the lacquer in very good condition with tiny cracquelure throughout; each chair with small areas of inpainting over lines of construction to backrest to front and reverse; with very minor inpainted gilding over age cracks; the first with loss to lacquer approximately 2 1/2 inches by 1/4 inch in length to cresting rail with some inpainting; tops of the seat rail with small chips and losses to edges and with minor inpainting to inside edge and retaining much of the original lacquered surface; stretcher's possibly later; central H-stretcher with overpainting; some inpainted restoration to feet with some chips and losses to lacquer; some inpainting to knees of front legs; the other with wear and rubbing to cresting rail with some small chips to lacquer; shallow chip to back right corner approximately 1 1/2 inches in length and with some inpainting; upper left quadrant of backrest with area of inpainting; central vase with area of inpainting and later gilding over age crack; arms with minor chips and losses to lacquer at edges; knees to front legs with small inpainted chips; feet with some inpainting and chips and losses to lacquer; the left side apron with inpainted losses to lacquer; some areas of inpainting to top of aprons and with some small chips and losses to lacquer, especially at edges; some rubbing and wear to stretchers; original leather seats in good condition with rubbing and wear to painted decoration; some age cracks throughout.
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.