Comprising two open armchairs, each with pierced ladder-back splat with central anthemion, with fluted stiles above a serpentine seat, upholstered in dark purple floral damask, on square fluted tapering legs with patera collars, restorations, ten chairs with printed paper label 'FROM WRIGHT AND MANSFIELD 104, NEW BOND STREET, W.', some rerailing to the George III chairs
The armchairs: 37 in. (94 cm.) high; 23³⁄₄ in. (60.5 cm.) wide; 22¹⁄₂ in. (57 cm.) deep
The sidechairs: 36 in. (91.5 cm.) high; 22 in. (56 cm.) wide; 22 in. (56 cm.) deep

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 15 June 2000, lot 25,
where acquired.

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Lot Essay

The chairs, with their hermed and antique-fluted legs and patteraed arms relate to a suite of seat furniture at Osterley Park (see M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1982, no. D/3 pp.34 and 35), while a related chair with palm-flowered rails dating from the 1770s is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see R. Edwards, English Chairs, London, 1951, fig. 94). The fluted tapering legs, with bull's-eye paterae collars, relate closely to seat furniture attributed to the preeminent London firm of William Ince (1737-1834) and John Mayhew (1736-1811), and is often incorporated into designs for hall chairs (see C. Cator & H. Roberts, Industry and Ingenuity: The Partnership of William Ince and John Mayhew, London, 2023, pp. 351 & 355, figs. 287 & 300). The chairs are labelled by Messrs. Wright & Mansfield, who played a leading role in the revival of the Adam style from the 1860s to the 1880s and are likely to extended the suite.

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Condition report

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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

In good condition overall.
There are the inevitable minor dents, marks and scratches due to age and use.
Four chairs have a matt finish and the rest have a polished surface.
Chair A: has a four inch loss to the corner moulding on the front right leg and the remains of a label on the back rail.
Chair B: is missing three inches of corner moulding on front right leg.
Chair C: has the remains of a label on the back rail and a slight crack to the top toprail on the right, missing a patera along the top of the left stile.
Chair D (armchair): tear to top of both front legs. Remains of label on the backrail. Later blocks.
Chair E: later blocks, later back seat rail, later front seat rail.
Chair F: slight repairs to top of the stiles, later blocks, later front seat rail and side rail. Back rail with label. Back right foot repaired.
Chair G: rerailed, plugged holes to the joints of the side rails and the stiles.
Chair H: replaced patera top of right stile. Repairs to joints of side rail with stiles. The back rail with label on left side rail base and later block.
Chair I: front left leg wobbly, later block. With paper label on back rail.
Chair J:
Chair K: one later cross strut, both front legs missing sections of corner moulding.
Chair L: remains of paper label to back rail. Section of corner moulding missing from front left leg.
Chair M: remains of paper label on back rail. Later blocks. Back left leg with repaired crack. Both front legs missing sections of corner mouldings.
Chair N: remains of paper label on back rail.
Chair O: later blocks, both front legs spliced. Repairs to lower flap. Replaced back rail and left side rail.
Chair Q: later front and side rail, later blocks, remains of paper label on back rail, repairs to joints on back legs.
Structurally sound and ready to use. Nailing from previous upholstery around the back legs.

Print Report