A GEORGE III CARVED MAHOGANY GAINSBOROUGH ARMCHAIR, CIRCA 1760, ATTRIBUTED TO PAUL SAUNDERS |

in a close-nailed caramel silk damask upholstery

Acquired from John Keil, 1985.

A finely carved and well drawn armchair in generally good conserved condition and ready to place. Close nailed upholstery in good condition. Joints sound and sturdy. Minor old marks and scuffs to frame and legs, and small chips and loses to carved detail consistent with age and use. Residue of old polish to carved areas and generally frames would benefit from a gentle clean/wax. Front corners to underside with baton supports. Formerly with castors. A handsome Gainsborough armchair.
"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 armchair can be attributed on stylistic grounds to the workshop of Paul Saunders (1722-71), an 'upholder' and cabinet-maker of Soho, London. The beautifully carved form and ornament reflects the influence of ‘French’ designs for chairs in Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754 (pls. XVIII-XIX). Indeed, Saunders was a subscriber to the Director, and was undoubtedly inspired by Chippendale’s designs.

Although most of Saunders’ work is undocumented, he supplied a closely related set of ten ‘elbow’ armchairs to the 1st Earl of Leicester for Holkham Hall, Norfolk in 1757[1]. The pattern of the offered chair with the furled acanthus detail to the armrest, foliate carved cabochons and distinctive scrolled foot, is a variation of the Holkham suite distinguished only by the addition of antique fluting, a trait possibly unique to Saunders’ workshop. For a related pair supplied to 1st Marquess of Bath (1734-1796) for Longleat, Wiltshire, and also attributed to Saunders, see those sold Christie’s, Longleat, 13 June 2002, lot 338 (£68,000). [1] Coleridge, A., Chippendale Furniture, London, 1968, p. 211, fig. 378.