An English George II Carved Mahogany Armchair

English Ca, 1755

Attributed to the London cabinet maker Paul Saunders

The padded back with serpentine top rail, above a serpentine padded seat, the padded armrests on scrolled supports carved with C-scroll cabochons and foliage, with C-scroll, acanthus, trellis and rockwork carved shaped seatrails, on conformingly-carved cabriole legs with scrolled feet and recessed beavers.

This chair shows all the hallmarks of Great English Cabinetmaking and is a Masterclass of the exquisite quality of craftsmanship available in the mid 18th century. Incorporate great design, and the highest quality of materials and the result is a true masterpiece for its period. It is therefore needless to say that a chair like this must have been part of an important commission demanding the highest standard and in today's market a rare survival.

So far 2 other chair of this model has been discovered and was part of the highly important collection of Gerald Hochschild, sold by Sotheby's London, 1 December 1978, lot 38. And subsequently bought by the famous London dealers Mallett and Sons.

Another Identical Chair was handled by the famous dealer Simon Redburn in 1973