A set of eight George II blue-japanned side chairs in the manner of Giles Grendey

Possibly continental, restorations, additions to feet.

Sold Sotheby's, London, June 6, 2006, lot 236

Overall good condition; structurally sound; extensive losses to japanning and old yellowed varnish throughout; extensive losses to the gilding especially to the figures; cresting rails appear to be over-painted and with rubbing and wear to the extremities; back legs spliced with plugs; front feet with additions; old worm damage throughout but the structure does not appear to be compromised. Chair X with repaired break at cresting rail and right stile; old repaired breaks to ends of the cross-stretcher at joins with side stretchers and with two later screws. Chair IXI with old repaired breaks to cross-stretcher, the ends with replacement, the underside with a metal brace. Chair VIII with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at join with stiles and with central splat; front right leg with a plug at join with right side stretcher. Chair V with and old repaired break to cresting rail at join with left stile. Chair I with old repairs breaks to cresting rail at joins with stiles; old repaired break to right side of cross-stretcher with a metal brace and a replaces section to the underside. Another chair with old repaired breaks to the cresting rail at joins with stiles; right side rail with a replace section approximately 8 inches by ¾ inches by ¾ inches; right side stretcher replaced. Chair III with old repaired breaks to cresting rail at joins with stiles; old repaired break to cross-stretcher with a wood block to the underside.
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.

Giles Grendey (1693-1780) was a leading London cabinet maker, born in Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire and apprenticed to the London joiner William Sherborne, becoming a freeman in 1716. Taking his own apprentices by 1726 he was elected to the Livery of the Joiners' Company in 1729. His first workshop was at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, moving to St. John's Square, Clerkenwell in 1722 where he developed a thriving export trade. It was reported in various newspapers on August 7, 1731, including the Daily Post and Daily Advertiser , that a fire which started on adjacent premises to Mr Grendey 'a Cabinet-maker and Chair-maker' caused him to lose furniture to the value of £1000, which he 'had pack'd for Exportation against the next morning'. Indeed his most famous recorded commission came from the Duke of Infantado, Lazcano, northern Spain, who acquired from Grendey a suite of some seventy pieces of scarlet japanned furniture which included cabinets, tables, torchères, mirrors and seat furniture.

For comparison see Christopher Gilbert, Marked London Furniture, Leeds: W.S. Maney and Son Ltd., 1996, p. 248, pl. 448, which illustrated one of the chairs from the Duke of Infantado`s suite.

Further examples can be seen in Hans Huth, Lacquer of the West, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1971, pl. 88, 89, and also Lanto Synge, Mallett Millenium, 1999, p. 84, pl. 82.

See also Christie's London, Important English Furniture, July 10, 2003, lot 132 and Sotheby`s New York, A Celebration of the English Country House, April 7, 2004, lot 179 and Christie's, London, Important English Furniture and Clocks, January 22, 2009 lot 144 for further comparisons.