A matched pair of George II armchairs

in the manner of Giles Grendey, one mahogany, the other fruitwood, arms possibly later

Good overall condition. One chair is ensuite with the two pairs of chairs and settee. The other is similar. The arms have been added to side chairs in both cases. The seats are worn and torn. Old marks and scratches.
"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 relate to a group of chairs traditionally been identified with the work of Giles Grendey, (d.1780). The form of the present chairs relates to two examples illustrated in P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1954, rev. ed. p.277, figs. 157 and 158. The former shows a walnut and parcel-gilt armchair in the collection of the Kunstindustrimuseet, Oslo of which the back and legs are almost identical to the present examples. The latter shows a chair with a back of very similar form to the present examples, and has a provenance of the Donaldson Collection. The unusual crest rail  features on a set of six chairs likely to have been commissioned in the 1740s by John, 2nd Earl Poulet (d.1764) commissioned for Hinton House, Somerset and subsequently sold Sotheby`s London, 1st November 1968, lot 58. These chairs were attributed to Grendey on the basis of another set of chairs, labelled by Grendey which have the same form of leg to the Hinton House set. These are illustrated in Christopher Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, figs. 437 and 438. This set was sold again by Sotheby`s in 1975 and now forms part of the collection of John Gerstenfeld, Washington, illustrated in Edward Lennox-Boyd, Masterpieces of English Furniture, The Gerstenfeld Collection, London, 1998, pl.85. Further examples, attributed to Giles Grendey, including a chair back settee which relate closely to the present examples are illustrated and discussed in Lucy Wood, The Upholstered Furniture in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, 2008, 2 vols., vol. 1 pp. 264-279.