A George II walnut armchair circa 1730

the drop-in seat covered in early 18th-century petit-point floral needlework, front rail marked II.

Hotspur, London

A lovely piece of English furniture. Later drop in seat but needlework covering almost certainly period. There are some tears and old repairs to this covering. Back splat with some discoloration as to be expected. Back rail painted 11208. The back splat with old splits and later securing dowels. Front rail marked with the roman numeral II. Minor old wood worm to the underside. Usual bruises, old chips, and scratches consistent with use and age. Minor age cracks to bottom of shoe. Each pad foot with a later metal pad.
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.

While many of the surviving examples of this model of chair date to the second quarter of the nineteenth century, this fine shaped-back armchair unusually dates from the mid 1730s. The later examples were almost certainly made by the firm of Gillow of Lancaster and reflect the antiquarian taste that influenced Gillows' designs at that period. A sketch of an almost identical chair was included in their Estimate Sketch Books, p. 3603.  Their design lacks the grace and subtle lines and ornament of the present chair, but the construction is similar, which indicates that Gillows could have been responsible for making the original chair in the 1730s.  A pair of chairs of this model, dating from the 1830s, was formerly in the collection of the well-known collector, Percival Griffiths of Sandridgebury, St. Albans. Made from elm with burr elm, these chairs had historically also been considered to date from the eighteenth century, although modern scholarship has disproved this, see Sotheby's London, June 5, 2007, lot 112.