- 74
A set of four George III giltwood armchairs circa 1780, in the manner of François Hervé
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
- giltwood, upholstery
the gadrooned pedimented top rail above a leaf frieze with two side urn finials, the padded arms terminating in paterae on a twist fluted baluster support on paterae headed tapering legs, regilt
Condition
An attractive set in good condition. The stretchers to the underside show that the chairs have been dipped at some point to strip their gilding or paint. They have since been attractively regilt. There are some old marks and scratches throughout and losses to the gilding notably to the extremities and the coiled arm supports. With two accompanying cushions.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
An attribution for the present pair of chairs to François Hervé is based on 'the documented pieces at Chatsworth where [Hervé's style] can be seen as a light, elegant and adroit mixture of English and French detail', (Beard and Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds: W. S. Maney, 1986, pp. 423-424), Ivan Hall, in 'A neoclassical episode at Chatsworth', The Burlington Magazine, June 1980, describes Hervé's style
as embodying 'certain distinctive features, among them the stepping down of the seat rails at their junction with the legs, a sensible constructional device that retained the slender elegance of the seat rails while providing a stronger joint at the leg junctions. The top-most part of the leg is frequently a quadrant in plan, sometimes overlaid with a patera or a half patera of radiating petals . . . the leg below the seat frame often has a turned necking band deeper that that found upon wholly English chairs'. These characteristics are found on the present pair of chairs but the back legs are splayed in the English manner. Interestingly, the saw marks of the insides of the seat frames are more typically French than English, the inner frames of English chairs usually being smoothly planed.
as embodying 'certain distinctive features, among them the stepping down of the seat rails at their junction with the legs, a sensible constructional device that retained the slender elegance of the seat rails while providing a stronger joint at the leg junctions. The top-most part of the leg is frequently a quadrant in plan, sometimes overlaid with a patera or a half patera of radiating petals . . . the leg below the seat frame often has a turned necking band deeper that that found upon wholly English chairs'. These characteristics are found on the present pair of chairs but the back legs are splayed in the English manner. Interestingly, the saw marks of the insides of the seat frames are more typically French than English, the inner frames of English chairs usually being smoothly planed.