Exceptional Pair George II Carved Walnut Library Armchairs

Raised on very well-carved cabriole legs with stylised ball-and-claw feet, each chair with rectangular upholstered back and padded armrests with down-swept foliate carved supports.

Professionally upholstered to a very high standard in fine English crewelwork, and close nailed.
It is possible that these sophisticated chairs are Irish in origin. The unusually deep and bold acanthus-carved knees are a further indication of this.

Please note one chair is of a later date (19th century) – virtually indistinguishable from the other and of the same superb quality.
Both are tight in the joints and of excellent colour and condition throughout. Ready to use.

Literature:

Herbert Cescinsky, ’English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century’, 1911, vol. 2, p. 6, fig. 82, for a very similar chair formerly in the collection of Percival D. Griffiths Esq. and dated 1740-1745. This fine antique chair also appears to be upholstered in crewelwork. Vis also pp. 76-95.

Percy Macquoid, ’A history of English Furniture’, London, 1989, p. 246, fig. 541

H. Cescinsky, ‘The Collection of the Hon. Sir John H. Ward, K.C.V.O.’, Connoisseur, March 1921, p. 142, fig. 5.

R. W. Symonds, ’English Furniture from Charles II to George II’, London, 1929, p. 155, fig. 102.

References:

Compare with a pair of walnut open armchairs sold at Christies London, 10th July 2003, lot 120, @ £218,050 (one restored).