A set of eight George III mahogany dining chairs circa 1760

comprising two armchairs and six side chairs, with interlacing foliate scroll top rail, with opposing 'C' scroll rocaille on interlaced foliate carved splat, on square reeded and chamfered legs each joined by stretchers, each rear seat rail stamped 'M C'

Mallett Antiques, London, 12th January 1993, (£100,000), sold as reputedly having belonged to Lord Clive of India.

Overall in good condition, with well figured timber to the splats. The chairs of generous proportion, one rear foot of one side chair with spliced repair, and showing a slight shine from an applied shellac, removable if according to taste.
"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 design for this chair is probably the most popular of the Chippendale chair designs appearing twice in the 3rd edition of the Director (plate XIII, right) dated 1762 and plate XIV right dated 1753, and described as ‘various Designs for Chairs for Patterns. The front Feet are mostly different, for the greater Choice. Care must be taken in drawing at large’. There is an original drawing by Chippendale for this chair annotated ‘a new-pattern chair’, now in the collection of the Chippendale Society. This same chair design was shown in Thomas Malton's Treatise on Perspective, 1775, which probably helped to maintain the popularity of this design.

The present lot does have straight fluted legs and the variations of the back from the book design are minor, namely the fluting of the uprights, mirroring the legs. 

A set supplied by Chippendale to Nostell Priory and illustrated in Anthony Coleridge, Chippendale Furniture, ill. 169, also presents the straight legs and the Victoria & Albert Museum has on view one chair of this same model.