A SET OF FOUR GEORGE III MAHOGANY WHEEL-BACK HALL CHAIRS, LATE 18TH CENTURY

A set of eleven virtually identical hall chairs, undoubtedly from the same workshop, was formerly in the possession of the Drapers' Hall, London, one illustrated by Herbert Cescinsky in English Furniture of the 18th Century (London 1911, vol. III, p. 46 fig. 36.), who attributes the design to Adam. A similar set of six was formerly with Moss Harris, London (one illustrated M. Harris & Sons, The English Chair: Its History and Evolution, London 1948, p.148, fig. C); a pair from this group was probably sold Christie's London, 13 November 2018, lot 83. 

This general form became fashionable during the 1770s and is seen on a set of armorial hall chairs with solid rather than pierced backs attributed to the London firm of Mayhew & Ince, formerly at Chirk Castle, Wales, sold on the premises by Christie's 21 June 2004, lot 54, and a similar set also supplied by Mayhew & Ince and possibly designed by William Chambers, to George Brodrick, 4th Viscount Midleton (d.1836) at Peper Harow, Surrey. One pair from this suite was sold Christie's London, 13 December 2018, lot 92. A further comparable pair was sold Christie's London, 21 May 2015, lot 15.