A pair of George II walnut side chairs circa 1735, attributed to Giles Grendey

the burr walnut shaped back supports with a shell cresting above a stylised back splat with scrolling acanthus leaf decoration, with upholstered seats above cabriole legs with carved shell motifs to the knees and drop swags, on ball and claw feet

AN attractive pair with rich colour. Overall in good conserved condition. One of the chairs with two areas of restoration to the back splat near to the left hand acanthus leaf decoration. Both chairs with signs of old shrinkage cracks which have been secured. With old marks and scratches consistent with age and use. These chairs are ready to place.
"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."

These chairs relate closely to the designs of the renowned early 18^th century cabinet maker Giles Grendey. Grendey’s most famous commission was for a suite of red lacquer furniture including bureau cabinets, mirrors, tables and suites of chairs, made for the Duke of Infantado for his castle at Lazcano in northern Spain. However, Grendey was also a highly regarded in England and contributed pieces to collections including Stourhead, Longford Castle and Barn Elms. Beard and Gilbert note in the Dictionary of English Furniture, he seems to have specialized in ‘neat well-made pieces in walnut and mahogany, similar pieces lacquered in scarlet for the Spanish market, and a minority of more elaborate works with idiosyncratic carved decoration and shaped panels’.

A set of six chairs by Giles Grendey almost identical to the present examples is in the collection of the Carnegie Museum of art, Pittsburg. They have plain, not molded, C- scroll brackets at the knees and are enriched with further acanthus leaf carving suspended from flower heads on the rising scrolls of the vase-shaped splats. Two bear fragmentary Grendey labels and bear the stamp IC on the seat rails. (See: Gilbert, op. cit.). Another three side chairs and an armchair identical to the Carnegie chairs, with Grendey labels, from the collection of J. S. Phipps are also recorded.

Other chairs of identical overall form but with slight differences to the carved detail are illustrated in:
Percy Macquoid, The Age of Walnut, London, 1908, p.181, fig. 406, from the collection of the Duchess of Wellington
Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, Country Life, 1986, vol. 1, p. 263, fig. 116
Christopher Gilbert, The Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 242, fig. 434, one of six chairs cited above.
Christopher Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, Leeds, 1978, Vol. I, p. 74, item 56
The Antique Collector, July-August, 1951, ‘The Chair with the Bended Back” ‘, R. W. Symonds, pp. 155-161, fig. 6
Sotheby’s, New York, November 21, 1981, lots 233, 234, 235
Sotheby’s, New York, sale October 26, 2002, lot 1921