Charles Rennie Mackintosh, after the model by

manufactured by Marsh, Jones, Cribb & Co., oak, horsehair drop-in seats

Roger Billcliffe, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, The complete furniture, furniture drawings & interior designs, Guildford and London, 1979, pp. 47-48 (for a discussion of these chairs)

An unusual pair of chairs of good overall appearance. Minor old marks and scratches. Pieces have been repolished. The drop-in seat cover with signs of wear. The paper labels also printed 'No.' and 'Workman's Name' and are indistinctly inscribed in pencil, possibly '18466', the name illegible. Of good structural condition. Ready for display.
"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."

These are two of what Billcliffe calls "six smaller variants [formerly] in a private collection in London. It has proved impossible to trace the provenance of these beyond c.1920, but, apart from their dimensions... the only differences [from the Argyle Street examples] are that the backrail is attached to the rear uprights by pins through the face of the upright, and that the seats are cut out at the rear corners to accommodate the uprights. I have reached no definite conclusion about these chairs, but they are at the very least extremely faithful, albeit smaller, facsimilies."

As Marsh, Jones, Cribb & Co. only traded under that name between 1897 and 1904, these chairs must be contemporaneous, or very nearly so, with those made for Argyle Street Tea Rooms.