A set of four Regency mahogany and painted hall chairs attributed to James Newton circa 1810

Restorations, one chair with later rails and legs.

Overall in fair country house condition; nice dry surface and old patina; each backrest with a small age crack running from the cresting rail into the backrest; old marks, scratches, scuffs and bruises throughout; some small chips, flaking and losses to the painted surface with cracquelure and very minor areas of inpainting. The first chair with a small old chip to the left scroll carving, two additional screws to the backrest at join with the back seat rail; a metal U-shaped brace to the underside of the back seat rail and supporting the back legs; the left back leg with a patch; the back right leg with an old repaired break; front left leg with repaired break; later corner blocks; minor age crack to underside of seat; old worm to seat rails; small losses and replacements to the molded banding to the rails. The second chair with later rails and legs; later blocks; later molded banding to the rails; the seat and backrest are original. The third chair with age cracks to the seat and with some plugs; the underside of the back rail with a metal U-shaped brace which supports the back legs; the front and back right legs with old plugged repaired breaks; the front left leg with a large chip to the front corner at the foot and with a metal L bracket to either side; the underside of the left seat rail with considerable old worm damage; some old worm to the back seat rail; two later screws to the backrest at join with the seat rail. The fourth chair with an old plugged repaired break to the front left leg at join with the seat rail and with subsequent loss to the molded banding; small old chips to the scrolled carving of the back rest.
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 backrests of present set of hall chairs share close similarity to the trestle support of a mahogany sofa table bearing the label of the late 18^th century/early 19^th century cabinetmaker James Newton, 63 Wardour Street, London, fl. 1773-1821; see Giles Ellwood, 'James Newton', The Journal of the Furniture History Society, 1995, pp. 149 and 156, fig. 54.  The wedge-shaped trestle support centered by a circular boss possibly relates to a drawing for a table in Thomas Hope's Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807, plate XX no. 2.  The sofa table was made by Newton most likely before 1808 as discussed by Ellwood (op. cit., p. 149).  The painted crest and motto of the present hall chairs are probably those of Lieut. Gen. Sir Charles Lockhart-Ross, 7^th Baronet of Carstairs, who succeeded his father Sir John Lockhart-Ross, 6^th Baronet in 1790.  The family seats were Balnagowan Castle, Kildary, Ross-shire and Bonnington House, co. Lanark in Scotland.  Besides major English clients such as Viscount Villiers, later 5^th Earl of Jersey at Osterley and the Earl, later Marquess of Exeter at Burghley House, Newton had a number of major Scottish noble clients, including the Duke of Buccleuch and the Earl of Breadalbane.  It is possible that Sir Charles Lockhart-Ross could have commissioned these chairs from Newton for his seat at Balnagowan Castle in the early 19^th century.

An almost identical pair of hall chairs lacking a painted coat of arms, was sold in these rooms, November 21, 1981, lot 331.

See also a related hall chair, Ellwood, op. cit., fig. 47, one of a pair of Klismos chairs made for Matthew Boulton, Soho House, before 1809; another similar pair of hall chairs with painted crests to the backrests, sold in these rooms, November, 21, 1981, lot 330.