A rare pair of Directoire brass-mounted mahogany chairs late 18th century

Jeremy Ltd., London, 1978

One chair with large restored age cracks to back and underside; repaired cracks to both stiles at joins with back rest; leftmost flowerhead brass mount later and with brass string inlay below missing (approximately 1/4 inch); restored crack with patch to back left leg; veneer patches to the tops of both front legs; restored break to right front leg, now with two supporting screws to underside. Other chair also with age cracks to underside and backrest with fillets to areas of shrinkage; patch to veneer at top right of crest rail; restored cracks at joins of stiles and backrest; brass inlay missing from outside edge of left arm and lifting to left side; repaired breaks to bottom and top of back right leg; repaired break to bottom of back left leg; veneer patches to tops of both front legs.
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.

A nearly identical example (see secondary illustration) with griffin heads instead of diamond mounts at the knees and slightly different front feet is illustrated in Pierre Devinoy, et. al., Le siège en France du Moyen Age à nos jours, Paris, 1948, pls. 271, 273. A set of twelve ebonized chairs copied after this model, commissioned by Micheline Lerner from Jansen in Paris in 1971, was sold Sotheby's New York, April 24, 2013, lot 62.