An assembled pair of Chinese export red-japanned caned side chairs mid 18th century

The first stamped III to the back rail, the other stamped IV to the back rail.  Redecorated.

Overall good restored condition; redecorated; later corner blocks; later strips of wood to the inside edge of the back rails; overall with areas of old worm especially to legs; extensive losses to the old painted surface with large areas of inpainting, gilding and redecoration. one with an old repaired break to cresting rail at join with splat; small vertical age crack to top of splat at join with cresting rail; two plugs to back left leg at join with rails; extensive old worm damage to seat rail especially to right side. The other with a small chip to back rail at join with back right leg; plugs to back legs at joins with rails.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This pair of chairs with its gold decoration on a sealing-wax red ground typifies the manner in which the Chinese artisan attempted to interpret English furniture designs, but then allowed eastern methods of construction. The profile of the legs, although similar to English examples, has a higher claw support, with a larger ball than found in European examples. The vase-shaped splats, with their arched and scrolled crest rails, are typical of English examples dating from the same period; see D. Howard, A Tale of Three Cities, Canton, Shanghai & Hong Kong, exh. cat., Sotheby's, London, 1997, p. 173, no. 225, for a related settee.