A pair of George III white painted and parcel-gilt serpentine armchairs, almost certainly by Thomas Chippendale circa 1770

with beaded padded cartouche-shaped backs, padded down-scrolled arms and stuffed seats over guilloche-incised rails centred on husk-festooned paterae, on fluted, turned, tapering legs with collared feet, currently covered in floral rose damask; cramp notches to underside of seatrails, paint refreshed

With J. Kugel until sold, Sotheby’s London, 9 March 1962, lot 135, and later acquired by Sir Peter Moores

Superb examples of their type. Redecorated and re-gilt. The frames are generally in good condition, with some rubbing, scratches and chipping to carved detail and paintwork revealing a white gesso undercoat and in some cases timber to the arms. The suite is covered in later silk upholstery and there are splits to some of these upholstered areas. One of the chairs lacks a plain moulded return to the top of one leg and there are variations to these moulded elements betwen the two chairs, however this is not immediately noticeable. One chair with a repaired front seat rail. Generally there are chips to extremities and splits and separations to components commensurate with age and use. There are later ball and metal pad feet. Both chairs are re-blocked, one in four places. These chairs like the rest of the group exude quality.
"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."

Thomas Chippendale is synonymous with the very best mid-18^th century English furniture. Chippendale was catapulted to fame in 1754 with the publication of his ground-breaking book of designs, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, which evolved stylistically over the three published editions to reflect, and even dictate, the often capricious tastes of the time. Relatively little is actually known about the particulars of his life, but we do know through existing archives that he was commissioned by many of the great houses of the day, including inter alia Harewood House, Nostell Priory, Dumfries House, Mersham Le Hatch, Paxton House, Aske Hall, Newby Hall, Brocket Hall and Petworth House.

Whilst there are several well documented suites by Chippendale of ‘French’ inspired giltwood seat furniture, including an impressive group which was supplied to William Constable around 1778 for the salon at Constable Burton Hall, it is perhaps though, the group which were supplied to Edwin Lascelles at Harewood House which relate most closely to the armchairs and the settees offered in this sale. These stylistic connections are exciting.

This present important suite of seat furniture feature a combination of motifs and design elements from both the Harewood House and Constable Burton Hall suites, including identical anthemion crestings and extremely similar scrolled arm supports, raised on almost indistinguishable turned tapering fluted legs with foliate carved toupie feet. Further, there are existing examples at Harewood House and manuscript designs for the suite at Constable Burton Hall which display similar centres to the front rail, elegantly carved with paterae entwined with laurel garlands.