A pair of George III mahogany library armchairs circa 1760

Probably acquired by William, 2^nd Viscount Courtenay, (1742 - 1788) and thence by descent.

Used at Exeter Cathedral by H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh.

Inventory 1803, recorded as mahogany armchairs.
Illustrated 'Powderham Castle', Country Life, April 4^th 1908, Vol. XXIII, p. 490 in the Marble Hall.
and
Illustrated 'Powderham Castle III', Mark Girouard, Country Life,  July 18^th 1963, Vol. CXXXIV, p. 143 in the Great Hall.

Both chairs in fairly good overall condition. both chairs with stains and wear to upholstery. Lovely colour and original condition. Armchair one; with chips to the rear of its back, possibly due to upholstery and consequent losses to carving and some patching to the inner edge to the rear of the back. The left hand arm has been cracked and repaired adjacent to the join of the upright. Cracks and repairs adjacent to the join of the arm support. One ear bracket from the back left hand leg missing. One leg is a later but well matched and carved replacement. Old worm to the rails. Height of seat 50cm. Width between arms 58.5cm., depth of seat 57cm. Armchair II: Similar repairs and losses to the inner edge of the rear of the back with some filled nail holes. Top right hand corner of the back cracked and repaired. The rails with old worm and with a later iron strenghthening bracket. An ear bracket missing to a rear left hand leg.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present chairs epitomise the `French rococo taste', promoted by Thomas Chippendale and his circle through their furniture designs, including an engraving of a `French Easy Chair' published in the Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, pl. XXI., a drawing of an armchair by Matthias Lock, in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a further design for an armchair by the Clerkenwell cabinet-makers William and Richard Gomm (see L. Boynton, `William and Richard Gomm', Burlington Magazine, June 1980, p. 398, fig. 25). The same firm supplied a suite of armchairs of a related pattern to the offered lot, to either Francis Palmer, Elizabeth Palmer or Sir Roger Palmer of Castle Lacken, Co. Mayo and later Kenure Park, Co. Dublin, Ireland (see J. Hardy, `The Discovery of the Cosway's Chair, Country Life, 15 March 1973, figs. 4 and 5). A pair of armchairs from the Kenure suite sold Christie's New York, 27 October, 2006, lot 100. A further related pair of chairs were sold, Sotheby's New York, 16 October 2008, lot 223.