A PAIR OF GEORGE I WALNUT ARMCHAIRS

These robust and vigorously-carved armchairs were almost certainly originally gilded, as evidenced by the combination of walnut and deal, `pieced-up' to create the thickness of the legs. They show a number of differences in the carving and other details, for example the lack of any previous castors on one chair, yet in other respects they appear to be of the same date and from the same workshop. The implication of this is that one chair, with more coarse but extensive carving, was created as a maquette, or model, perhaps to demonstrate the pattern to a client, or else as a `guide' for the carver. Since the maquette was not intended for practical use it would have been unnecessary to equip it with castors. The second chair is more conventionally and finely carved yet it must have been apparent that the carving need not extend around the back of the leg.
A pair of chairs of similar form and covered in needlework, formerly at Easton Neston, Northants, was sold from the collection of Jasper Conran, Christie's, London, 14 September 2021, lot 186 (£75,000 including premium).