Fine George III Chippendale Mahogany Armchair

A very fine George III Chippendale period carved mahogany armchair, of superb quality and generous proportions. 

English, circa 1765 

The molded serpentine crestrail, carved with foliate scrolls to each eared corner and an acanthus clasp to the centre, over a pierced vasiform splat of a particularly pleasing broad proportions, carved with acanthus sprays and scrolls and flanked by shaped and molded uprights and C-scrolled arms, above the drop-in seat covered in Chartreuse damask, within the channelled seat rail, raised on square chamfered and channelled legs, united by an H-stretcher. 

Made of solid and dense well-figured Honduras mahogany, beautifully patinated to a warm golden colour, crisply carved with foliate motifs. Back seat rail stamped IG, which is most likely, the chairmaker’s initials; incised with Roman numerals II, with original drop-in seat correspondingly numbered. 

Similar stamps of the journeymen’s initials are often found on chairs from the workshop of Giles Grendey (1693-1780) of Clerkenwell, London. Fine choice of timber, superb carving and sophisticated design of the present chairs suggest their London origin, a highly skilled craftsman and a wealthy patron. 

Fine original antique condition, warm golden colour and superb patina. 

For a closely related design please see H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the 18th century, fig. 286, p. 257.