A pair of George II mahogany library armchairs circa 1750

in the manner of William Kent, with arched padded backs, padded arms on foliate carved supports headed with rosettes, padded seats on conforming scroll and leaf-carved cabriole legs with castors

These are overall in excellent condition. They have been recently recovered with green silk. Colour and patina are both good. Rear legs possibly replaced. The rails have some old worm damage consistent with age and use. The front inside edge of the left hand foot has been repaired with an inset patch which has been well-carved and coloured in. The rear left hand foot of the other chair is chipped. Minor losses to carving throughout consistent with age and use which do not detract. Old marks and scratches again consistent with age and use which do not detract.
"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 design of the present pair of chairs is influenced by the Roman fashion promoted  by William Kent. The leaf and entrelac carved ornament seen on the arms and legs and also the moulded plinths on the base of the legs are details which can be seen in his publication, `Some Designs of Mr Inigo Jones and Mr William Kent', of 1744, showing designs for a Settee and two chairs and for an arm-chair, illustrated in Peter Ward-Jackson, English Furniture Designs of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1958, pl. 16 and 17.   

 
William Kent was born in Yorkshire around 1685-6. From 1709 to 1719 he lived in Italy, studying to be a painter. It is however as an architect he is best known. Even in his student days, his interest  had been directed towards architecture and this had no doubt been stimulated by his meeting there with Lord Burlington in 1716. Three years later he returned to England with him and from then his name was to be inextricably linked with that of his patron. With Palladio as their God and Inigo Jones as their Prophet, they set about the trying to establish a change in English architecture. Kent was the first English architect to take an interest in the interior design of houses. One of his most notable early commissions was in 1722 to secure the interior commission at Kensington Palace, a project that was to last five years. These interiors which also included the furnishings was the first designed entirely by the architect. Other major commissions followed including Walpole`s Houghton Hall for which designs prepared by him for the saloon are believed to be the first surviving evidence for an architect presenting a design for an entire room. By 1730 he was one of the leading architects of the neo-Palladian movement

One of a pair of armchairs, identical to the present lot is shown illustrated in Country Life, Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire- II, January 11th 1968, p.70. Hanbury Hall was described as the home of Mr and Mrs Edmund Bayliss.

This armchair together with its pair was subsequently sold by Bonhams and Goodman, Melbourne, Australia, Important Art, Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts, 24th April 2007, designated `The Property of Mr and Mrs Edmund Bayliss, Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire', realised $Aus.180,000.