A pair of George II carved mahogany library armchairs circa 1750, possibly by William Hallett

Comparative Literature:
Cesinsky, English Furniture, 1911, vol. II, p. 25, fig. 7, and p. 30.
Lucy Wood, The Upholstered Furniture in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, 2008, 2 vols., vol. I, pp. 503-505.
John Gloag and Yvonne Hackenbroch, English Furniture With Some Furniture From Other Countries In The Irwin Untermeyer Collection, 1958, pl. 84, fig. 109
Francis Lenygon, Furniture in England from 1660-1760, 1914, p. 73, fig. 116 and p. 51, fig. 64.

These are in general in good restored and re-upholstered condition. Both have old marks and scratches consistent with age and use. Chair 1: This chair has an old restored break to one front leg. One back leg has a splice to the inside and a reapired old break. The other back leg has a break to the inside stile with crude screwed repair. The two front legs and one back leg have later metal strengthening braces. The rails original with later angle blocks. Castors later. Old worm to rails. Both arms have old repaired breaks. Chair 2: Spliced repair to one front leg on the inner side. Both have later metal strengthening brackets. The other front leg has a repair to the shin beneath the ring. Rear legs with possible old repairs. Later angle blocks to rails which have old worm damage. One arm support with a crude screwed repair.
"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 lot appears to form part of a larger set of armchairs four of which have provenance from William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, Thornton Manor, Wirral, Cheshire, (see Lucy Wood, op. cit., pp. 503-505). Elements in their design, comprising the unusual eagle head terminals to the arms and the ring collars above claw and ball feet, are paralleled on a group of chairs including a pair of armchairs from the collection of Dr Frank Crozier Knowles, sold Christie's New York, 22 October 1998, lot 244; an armchair of unknown provenance recorded in the Victoria and Albert Museum Picture Library archives (V&A fiche no. 11944); a pair of carved walnut and parcel gilt armchairs at Chatsworth (see Lucy Wood op. cit. pp. 506-507); an armchair recorded in the Irwin Untermeyer Collection (see John Gloag and Yvonne Hackenbroch op. cit., pl. 84); a stool from the collection of Mrs Charles Hunter and a side chair illustrated in Lenygon op. cit., p. 73, fig. 116 and p. 51, fig. 64 and again (the stool) in Peter Brown, The Noel Terry Collection of Furniture and Clocks at Fairfax House York, 1987, p. 48, pl. 48); and a suite of walnut seat furniture comprising a chair back settee and a pair of side chairs, sold Sotheby's New York, 15 April 2010, lots 144 and 145.  

It is possible that this group was made by William Hallett, one of the most successful cabinet makers of the second quarter of the eighteenth century. The use of the turned collar above the claw-and-ball foot is evident in much of Hallett's work, including a suite of side chairs commissioned by Arthur Ingram, 6^th Viscount Irwin, in 1735 for his London residence, and removed to Temple Newsam House, his country seat, in 1736. This suite was sold first in 1922 and again, Sotheby's London, June 24, 1966, lot 127. It was discussed by Christopher Gilbert, 'Newly Discovered Furniture by William Hallett', The Connoisseur, December 1964, pp. 224-225, shown with the original invoice. Another similar chair is illustrated in Ralph Edwards, English Chairs, London, 1970, 3^rd ed., no. 58.

William Hallett was one of the most fashionable cabinet-makers working in the second quarter of the 18th century and was possibly the partner of the firm of Vile and Cobb. Because of his inheritance, successful property ventures and his marriage to a cousin with a large dowry, Hallett amassed a fortune and was able to spend less time involved with furniture making, delegating those duties to his son, William Jr. His clients included the 4th Duke of Beaufort at Badminton, Augusta, Princess of Wales, 1st Earl of Leicester at Holkham, Sir Matthew Featherstonhaugh at Uppark, 2nd Earl of Lichfield at Ditchley Park, 7th Earl of Pembroke at Wilton House, and 3^rd Lord Burlington.