A George III needlework-upholstered mahogany library armchair circa 1760

The needlework associated.

William James, West Dean Park
Thence by descent to Edward James, West Dean Park
The Edward James Collection, West Dean Park, Christie's London, June 1986, lot 189
The HSBC Corporate Art Collection
Sotheby's New York, October 21, 2004, lot 18

Overall good condition; the needlework associated and with some areas of losses and some areas of in-stitching; beautifully carved; the rails with some old worm damage but appear to be stable; the legs in good condition with some old bruises and scratches.
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.

Chairs of this form are described in contemporary pattern books as French Chairs, Chippendale noting in the third edition of The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers' Director, 1762, that plates XX, XI, XXII, XVIII, are for 'Eight Designs of French Chairs, which may be executed to Advantage. Some of them are intended to be open below at the Back: which make them very light without having a bad Effect......A skilful Workman may also lessen the Carving, without any Prejudice to the Design. Both the Backs and the Seats must be covered with Tapestry, or other sort of Needlework'.  The design for the legs of this chair can be found in the Director plate XI. 

This chair richly carved in the Rococo manner, with its finely worked needlework covers was probably acquired in the 1890s by William James (b. 1853) together with two pairs of related armchairs with similarly carved armrest supports which were sold in these rooms, October 12, 2007, lots 194 ($301,000) and 195 ($301,000).  William Dodge James was the son of Daniel James who married, as his second wife, a member of the Dodge mining family, his own family fortune had initially been founded on timber in America and grown with interests in mining and railways. In 1891 he acquired West Dean House near Chichester, Sussex, a house dating from the 17th century which had been extensively rebuilt by James Wyatt for Sir James Peachey, 1st Lord Selsey, between 1805 and 1808. James had the house extensively remolded by the fashionable architecture firm of Ernest George and Peto, contemporary photographs taken by Bedford and Lemere & Co. showing sumptuous interiors decorated in typical Late Victorian and Edwardian taste. These were furnished both in the French and English taste, part of James's collection of English furniture being illustrated in Percy Macquoid's pioneering work, The Age of Mahogany, 1906, p. 211, fig. 192.   When sold in 1986, Christie's House Sale, West Dean Park, June 2, 3, and 6, 1986, lot 190, the stools, lot 192, the sofa, the two lots included a pair of stools and a settee, the first now in the Gerstenfeld Collection; see E. Lennox-Boyd, ed., Masterpieces of English Furniture The Gerstenfeld Collection, London 1998, pp. 118, 217 no. 50 and pp. 119, 221, no. 59, one of the stools.

In 1913 the house was inherited by his son, Edward, who did not choose to make his permanent home there, although in the 1920s and early 1930s at the time of his marraige to the actress Tilly Losch he made various decorative alterations. Edward, whose main residence was at nearby Monckton which he decorated and furnished and decorated in an eccentric manner befitting a connoisseur who was actively involved in the surrealist movement. He was a great patron and friend, amongst others, of the artist Salvador Dali.

A pair of giltwood armchairs with related armrests from the collection of the the Earl of Harrington, Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire, was sold, Sotheby's, London, November 8, 1963, lot 179; see also, Getty Summary Collection, p. 196, no. 390.