A fine pair of George II walnut library armchairs attributed to Giles Grendey Circa 1750

each with rectangular upholstered canted back flanked by curved padded arms with leaf-carved C-scroll supports terminating in rosettes above a flared rectangular overupholstered seat, on vigorously carved cabriole legs with leafy knees terminating in hairy animal-paw feet.

Overall fair condition; the seats with later springing. The first chair with an old repaired break to right handhold with some infilling and a plug; the front right corner of the downswept armrest support with infilled chips and old restoration; the sides of the bottoms of the dowswept armrest supports with old infilled upholstery holes; front right side bracket with a replaced leaf tip; front left leg with chip to tip of ruffled scroll; back left side bracket with replaced leaf tip; back right foot with old repaired break most probably with a metal pin to the interior for structural support and covered up by a long thing wood patch which connects the foot with the rest of the leg; the foot appears to be the original foot; the seat with springing; the rails with additional battens which support the upholstery; the front and right side rails probably replaced; the left and back rails appear to be original; old worm damage to the rails and to the backs of the brackets with some losses; formerly fitted with casters and now with cylindrical wood blocks. The other chair with old repaired breaks to the handholds; some small restorations to bases of the armrest supports; sides of the bottoms of the armrest supports with infilled upholstery holes; back right side bracket with loss to leaf tip and with later infilled replacements; back left side bracket with loss to leaf tip; front left leg with one replaced tip to ruffled scroll; front and back seat rails replaced; side rails appear to be original; old worm damage to rails and backs of brackets with some losses; some corner struts replaced. Overall with scuffs, scratches and wear to legs and feet; with a dark finish to surface; nice rubbing and wear to the acanthus-carved downswept armrest supports; would benefit from a cleaning and sympathetic restoration.
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 present pair of armchairs can firmly be attributed to the workshop of Giles Grendey (1693-1780) when one compares nearly identical chairs bearing his label to the present chairs, an example of which includes a suite of chairs from Gunton Park, Norfolk which is illustrated in P. Macquoid, A History of English Furniture: The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, vol II, pp. 122-123, figs. 104, 105 and in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, London, 1996, p. 243, fig. 437.  The present pair is nearly identical to a set of armchairs which was supplied to the Hon. George Shirley (d. 1787) fifth son of the 1st Earl of Ferrars, for Ettington Park, Warwickshire.  The set was sold in the house sale of Ettington Park in 1946.  Pairs of chairs from this set have sold subsequently at Christie’s, London, July 4, 2002, lot 20 and July 10 2003, lot 120.

Other chairs of the same model which feature similar hairy paw feet include: a library chair from the collection of Percival D. Griffiths, Esq. illustrated in H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, vol. II, New York, n.d., p. 86, fig 32 (with apparently uncarved back legs), another in the collection of the Hon. Sir John H. Ward., K.C.V.O., The Connoisseur, March 1921, p. 142, no. V; and a pair sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, November 15, 1985, lot 43. A further chair is illustrated in F.L. Hinckley, Metropolitan Furniture of the Georgian Years, New York, 1988, p. 69, fig. 79; and a settee of this model with nearly identical legs and armrest supports sold in these rooms October 21, 2005, lot 11 ($162,000).

GILES GRENDEY

Grendey's first workshop was at St. Paul's,Covent Garden, moving to premises in St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, in 1722 where he developed a thriving export trade. It was reported in various newspapers on August 7, 1731, including the Daily Post and Daily Advertiser, that Grendey was described as being 'the greatest loser, among the stock destroyed being 'an easy Chair of such rich and curious Workmanship, that he had refus'd 500 guineas for it, bring intended, 'tis said to be purchas'd by a Person of Quality who design'd it as a Present to a German Prince' and furniture to the value of £1,000, which he 'had pack'd for Exportation against the next Morning.'  Like much of Grendey's furniture, many pieces retain his printed paper trade label, together with a number of stamped initials which can be identified with the names of his apprentices. These labels and initials have allowed a number of attributions to be made which have expanded his oeuvre, his actual documented work being very sparse.