A George I style mahogany commode armchair attributed to Lenygon and Company, Ltd. circa 1910

On casters.

Overall unrestored condition with a nice rich color and old surface with nice dark patination around carved areas and lovely wear to carving; finish with craquelure in places; age cracks to the veneers to the upper part of the back splat over lines of construction with the cresting rail; chips to ends of scrolls of stiles; slight separation at lines of construction between armrests and backrest; old chip inside edge of right armrest; chips and wear to molded edge of drop-in seat; front apron with two patches to veneers and with age cracks and slight lifting in places; small chips and losses to carving of edge; side aprons with small losses to veneers and with age cracks; back left foot with an age crack; overall with old marks, scratches, scuffs and bruises.
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.

The firm of Lenygon & Company, whose premises were at 31 Old Burlington Street, London, was founded in the early 1900's. They had an important clientele of aristocratic and wealthy patrons including the Duke of Devonshire, the Earl of Pembroke, and W.H. Lever, later Lord Leverhulme, for whom they worked as decorators and suppliers of antique and reproduction furniture. In 1909 Francis Lenygon, the owner of the firm, published The Decoration of Furniture of English Mansions during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. Although he was credited with authorship of this volume it is believed to be the work of Margaret Jourdain who became one of the most important and influential writers and historians of English furniture of the first half of the 20th century. Although many of the illustrations are of genuine pieces, it is clear that others are undoubtedly reproductions by Lenygon, this distinction not being made clear in the text. Page 39 illustrates a group of chairs described as `Types of chairs used in important apartments, period of William Kent.' These include an armchair, the design of which is identical to a chair-back settee sold by Sotheby's at the sale of the collection of the Viscount Leverhulme at Thornton Manor, June 26, 2001, lot 305. This was clearly stamped on the back MADE BY LENYGON CO. LTD./REPRODUCTION. The original invoice from Lenygon to W.H. Lever describes this as `A mahogany carved and partly gilt settee, reproduction of old model as agreed'. The present chair is certainly by Lenygon & Company, the only difference to the illustrated chair and the settee being that it has a much deeper apron.

Genuine examples of this form do exist, a side chair being illustrated by R.W. Symonds in `The importance of English Chair Design - Part II,' International Studio, p. 44, fig. 77. Another was sold, Sotheby's, London, June 4, 1999, lot 120.