A set of four George III mahogany armchairs attributed to Thomas Chippendale circa 1775

Overall good restored condition; the first chair stamped 9 to the backside of the tops of each back leg and with a wood vertical brace to the backrest; the cresting rail with old repaired breaks at joins with stiles and with old repaired breaks at joins with stiles and armrest; each stile with a plug to the reverse; old repaired break to top of right armrest support at join with handhold; old repaired break to left backrest support at join with backrest; one screw to the underside of the right seat rail at join with armrest support and old screwed repaired break to right seat rail next to join with back right leg. The second chair with old repaired break to right stile at join with armrest; each armrest with a plug; old repaired break to left armrest at join with backrest; age crack and slight separation at lines of construction to base of left stile with bottom rail; old repaired break to top of left armrest support and now with three plugs and with replaced section to the top of the support; the underside of the left seat rail stamped III and with a screw at join with armrest support, a screw at join with front left leg and with a small chip at join with back left leg. The third chair with a tie at join with cresting rail and left stile; back of each armrest with an old plug at join with backrest; some infilling at join of right stile with armrest; underside of left seat rail with screw at join with armrest support; old repaired break to top of back right leg. The fourth chair with old repaired chips to cresting rail and tops of stiles at joins; old repaired break to left stile and armrest at join now with a patch to the back and with subsequent infilling; old repaired break to right armrest at join with stile; patch to top of right armrest support at join with handhold; old repaired break to left armrest support with a replaced section to the top; right and left side seat rails with a screw to underside at join with armrest supports; old repaired break to the bottom rail of backrest at join with right backrest support. Overall with minor chips and wear to carving and with old marks, scratches, scuffs and bruises consistent with age and use.
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.

These elegant solid mahogany armchairs relate in design to a suite of armchairs supplied by Thomas Chippendale in 1767 for Lady Winn's ante-chamber at Nostell Priory, described by Christopher Gilbert as possessing the 'sober dignity and sincerity  which English patrons so admired'; see Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, vol. I, pp. 171-2, ibid., vol. II, p. 97, figs. 140-1.  The '10 Mahogany french [sic] arm Chairs' at Nostell have similar armrests, serpentine aprons and scroll-carved front and back feet, although are more elaborately carved with C-scrolls to the cabriole legs and brackets.  An attribution to Chippendale is strengthened by the distinctive V-shaped notches for glue cramps to the undersides of the chairs, the batten holes to the side rails for packing as well as the exposed struts to the backrests, all well-known features of Chippendale's oeuvre.