A pair of Italian carved giltwood armchairs, Rome, circa 1770

each with a cartouche shaped padded back with a foliate carved cresting within a guilloche carved frame above downscrolled arms and serpentine drop-in padded seat, the seat-rail centred by a raised tablet enclosing a patera on cabriole legs terminating in hoof feet

Most probably from Palazzo Borghese or Villa Borghese, Rome.
Possibly the pair formerly in the collection of Principe Don Gerolamo Rospigliosi.
Private European Collector. 

Colour of gilding more golden, less orange and more natural and attractive than in the catalogue photograph. Joints sound and sturdy. Some minor retouching to gilding. The gilding is slightly dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste. There are minor chips to the gilding and wear especially to the arms commensurate with age and normal usage. There are hairline construction cracks at the joints which are normal and can be left however, there is a larger crack where the front left leg meets the seat-rail which could easily be filled. Some normal wear to the feet and evidence of old minor worm which appears to be no longer active. The backs are painted not gilded which is normal. Five roundels on the tablet on the seat-rail of both armchairs have been replaced. On another armchair the iron bracket that holds in the drop in back is missing but this can easily be replaced.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Enrico Colle, Il Mobile Neoclassico in Italia, Milan, 2005, p. 153.
Goffredo Lizzani, Il Mobile Romano, Milan, 1970, pl. 171 and 172.
Alvar González-Palacios, Il Gusto dei Principe, Milan, 1993, Vol. I, p. 240.

This imposing pair of armchairs are part of a distinctive group with guilloche carved frames which typify the Transitional Roman style in the second half of the 18th century with their generous proportions and fluid sculptural carving and must have been part of an extensive suite originally at Palazzo or Villa Borghese in Rome, as to date, in addition to the offered pair, another six are recorded, (see post).

Two pairs of armchairs from the same suite, one of which with a label inscribed in ink L. Borghese (see fig. 3), stated to be probably from Palazzo or Villa Borghese, were sold in the Ariane Dandois sale, Sotheby's New York, 25th October 2007, lots 330 and 331 ($577,000), one of which is reproduced here in fig. 2. One can speculate that due to the Borghese label on one of the armchairs that they were formerly part of the furnishings of Villa Borghese or of the Palazzo. Their strong neoclassical design would seem to fit in with the remodernisation in the antique manner of those interiors commissioned by Prince Marcantonio IV Borghese (1730-1800), to for example, the architect Andrea Asprucci and the Valadiers. In March and April 1892, furniture and works of art from the piano nobile of Palazzo Borghese were sold at auction in Rome and at least ten entries refer to sets of armchairs, unfortunately the descriptions are not detailed enough to enable a precise identification with the offered pair.  

The outline whilst inspired by French Transitional models still alludes to the rococo with the sinuous armrests and cabriole legs. The band of guilloche is also typical of Roman seat furniture of the second half of the 18th century. See for example an armchair and banquette, the former in the Pallavincini Rospigliosi Palace, illustrated by Lizzani, op. cit., pl. 171 & 172.

An identical pair of Roman armchairs incorrectly catalogued then as French, was in the collection of Principe Don Gerolamo Rospigliosi and sold by G. Tavazzi, Galleria Sestieri, Rome, 28th April-5th May  1931, lot 503, in the celebrated sale of the Prince's collection, one of which is reproduced here in fig. 1.

Italian furniture is very rarely signed, however, a set of six very similar armchairs with the seat-rail signed Gacinto Pescaia (who was unrecorded), sold in these Rooms, 13th December 1996, lot 126. It is possible the former was a relative of Ignazio Pescaglia, chairmaker whose work is recorded around 1790, in Villa Borghese (see Alvar González-Palacios, op. cit., p. 240).