A set of six fine George II burr and figured walnut dining chairs in the manner of Giles Grendey circa 1735

comprising an armchair and five side chairs, each with outscrolled crest rail and a shaped vasiform scrolled splat above a contemporary needlework-upholstered balloon seat, raised on hipped shell- and husk-carved cabriole legs ending in pointed pad feet, the armchair with shepherd's-crook arms, the seat rails variously stamped with Roman numerals and with the maker's initials IL, TL, HW.

Overall good condition; Chair VI with two later side rails, though the veneers to the side rails are possibly original or appear to be contemporary to the piece; drop-in seat replaced. Chair IIII with restoration to right side seat rail at join with front right leg; drop in seat possibly contemporary. Chair II - both side rails are replaced though appear to have old or contemporary walnut veneers; drop-in seat possibly original. Chair VIII with a small restoration to the right side; small cracks to veneer of splat at join with cresting rail. Armchair in good condition. Overall, the chairs have some small age cracks to the veneers of the splats at joins with the cresting rail; some small bruises, nicks and wear mainly to feet; the chairs appear to have been restored a long time ago and all of the worm holes have been filled. The chairs appear to be sturdy; the needlework is later and in good condition.
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.

The present chairs with their elongated shell-carved knees and vase-form splats bear similarities to the work of Giles Grendey.

Giles Grendey (1693-1780), furniture maker and timber merchant, is probably best know for the suite of furniture he produced for the Duke of Infanto at Lazcano castle in northern Spain.  That suite contained over eighty pieces of scarlet-japanned furniture (for an illustration of chair, see Christopher Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, Leeds: NACF and Leeds Art Collections Fund, 1978, vol. I, pp. 79-81 fig. 61).  The chairs, of which there are over sixty, have a shaped medial stretcher between side stretchers and a high back stretcher, characteristics which are also found on the offered set of chairs.  Like the Infanto chairs, the back rails of the present chairs have the impressed initials of a number of journeymen.  Chair makers in Grendey's workshop usually stamped the back rails with their initials.