A pair of George III carved mahogany open armchairs, circa 1770, attributed to John Linnell

each with cartouche shaped moulded back with a pierced and acanthus carved splat, above carved arms with clasped ball terminals and moulded arm supports, drop-in serpentine seat, on fluted turned tapering legs and beaded feet

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE
Helena Hayward, Pat Kirkham, William and John Linnell, Eighteenth Century London Furniture Makers, London, 1980.

This pair of elegant chairs are in good conserved condition. There are some minor areas of movement along the lines of construction to the top of the back splat. The drop in seats with later fine upholstery on top of later caning. The seat rails with signs of old worm that is no longer active. These are very fine and ready to place in an interior.
"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."

This elegant model can be firmly attributed to the Linnell workshop, then run by John Linnell (1729–96), after his father William’s passing in 1763. The splat back design can be seen on a painted satinwood armchair from Castle Howard, supplied by Linnell to 5th Earl of Carlisle around 1780, (ill. Hayward, fig.98) and the ball clasped finials are a recurring motif in his seat furniture, and appear on one of his designs for an armchair, c.1770-1775 (Victoria & Albert Museum, E.82 1929, ill. Hayward, fig.87). This feature was used in a commission for one of his most notable patrons, Robert Child (d.1782) of Osterley Park (circa 1768) for either Osterley Park or for 38 Berkeley Square (ill. Hayward, fig.72), with which the current lot also shares the same moulding support to the finials and the carved lotus arm joints.

A similar armchair was sold with Bonham’s London, 21 November 2012, lot 85 (£13,750) and one other in the same rooms, 11 March 2015 (£6,875).