A Rare Set of eleven George III Painted Windsor X-Frame Armchairs in the manner of William Webb of Newington Circa 1800

in the manner of William Webb of Newington, Surrey, the low backs with pierced vase shaped fret-work splats, the dished seats with shaped aprons, the x-frame supports with turned bosses, including two embroidered cushions, probably re-decorated and originally cream in colour.

Possibly bought by Wyndham Harbin for Newton Surmaville, Somerset
Thence by descent
Sold, Sotheby's, London, March 5, 2008, lot 339

Illustrated Gordon Nares, 'Newton Surmaville - Somerset II', Country Life, September 12, 1952, p. 761, fig. 3, one in the hall.

Overall the chairs are sturdy and with a later faux-grained painted surface with chips and losses showing a number of other painted surfaces beneath. The first chair with a replaced by X-support, the front X support with replaced diagonal left to right leg and lacking one boss; chair with large age crack to seat; back right leg with loose old repaired break. The second chair with an age crack to seat and lacking both wedges to the front X-suport The third chair with on large age crack to the seat; two wedges loose but present; back X support with old repaired break and with a long metal plate to support it and lacking one wedge. The fourth chair with crack to top of right armrest at join with cresting rail and slightly loose; lacking wedge to front X support; old repaired break to right leg at join with X; seat with large age crack. The fifth chair with two large age cracks to the seat and lacking wedges to the front X-support; right armrest slightly loose. The sixth chair with large age crack to seat; front and back X-supports each lacking one wedge. The seventh chair with a large age crack to seat; lacking one wedge to back X-support; lacking two wedges to front X-support. The eighth chair with very minor age crack to the seat; lacking one wedge to front X-support. The ninth chair with two thing age cracks with four thin age cracks with a part of the seat which is lifting slightly; back X-support lacking one wedge. The tenth chair with two large age cracks; left armrest support slightly loose; front X-support lacking on wedge The eleventh chair with a large age crack to the seat; top of front right armrest support spindle cracked at join with handhold of armrest; large chip to front left corner of seat; front X-support lacking one wedge.
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.

This rare set of chairs is unusal in its quantity and form.  The design combines elements often seen in hall chairs such as boarded seats and X-frame supports as well as attributes associated with Windsor chairs, such as shaped arm supports, stick backs and pierced splats. Michael Harding-Hill illustrates a very fine example in his seminal text, Windsor Chairs, Woodbridge, 1979, p. 78 and 79. He writes 'This very rare chair was probably a veranda or garden chair. The paint is original and is in the late 18th/early 19th century style. I have never seen a chair of this style before and, as far, as I know, it has not been previously recorded. Although 'X' frame chairs have existed from the 16th century; the inspiration for the unusual leg arrangement is clearly from a Regency 'X' frame stool. Harding-Hill also illustrates a trade card for William Webb of Newington, Surrey (fl.1792-1808). On this printed bill, Webb features a very similar chair to the offered lot.
It is interesting considering where at Newton these could have been placed. There is a 'Garden Corridor' or conservatory, although the set is perhaps too large for this space. Maybe they were a purchase for the Octagonal summer house (albeit a few decades after its construction in the 1760's). They certainely would have been an ideal choice for easily movable seating which could be placed against the walls of this space when not in use.