A GEORGE III ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY ARMCHAIR

The general pattern for this corresponds to designs for library chairs published in George Smith's A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture, 1808, pl. 42 and 48. A suite of seat furniture of the same pattern, including armchairs, sofa and side chair, is at Brocklesby Park, photographed in the Entrance Hall in Arthur Oswald, 'Brocklesby Park - I, Lincolnshire', Country Life, 24 February 1934, p. 194, fig. 6.
Another suite is at Shugborough, Staffordshire, photographed in the Saloon, remodelled by Samuel Wyatt (d.1807) from 1803 - 06 (James Lees-Milne, 'Shugborough, Staffordshire', Connoisseur, May 1967, p.10, fig. 9). As well as enlarging the Saloon, Wyatt refurbished mahogany side tables dating from the 1760s by the addition of marble tops and ormolu mounts, and it is entirely possible that he influenced the design of this seat furniture.
A single armchair of this pattern was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 27 June 1985, lot 120 (£5,184 including premium), another was sold from Hadspen, Somerset, Sotheby's house sale, 29 May 1996, lot 107 (£10,350 including premium), while a pair was sold by the Executors of Michael, 2nd Baron Croft (1916-1997), Croft Castle, Herefordshire, Sotheby's, London, 6 June 2002, lot 73 (£35,850 including premium).