A Rare Pair of George III Carved Mahogany 'Chinese' Arm Chairs, circa 1765. Photo Sotheby's

each with an upright back with a shaped crest rail above a panel with geometric pierced 'Chinese' lattice work ornamented at the top with foliate scroll carving, the arms with paper scroll terminals and carved with foliage continuing to incurved supports, and similarly in-filled with Chinese lattice work, the upholstered drop-in seats within narrow moldings above plain conforming seat rails, the square molded legs with paneled ornament and with pierced brackets and joined by H-stretchers, the back legs slightly outswept and chamfered, each with the inventory number1958-465 , 1 and 2 . Estimation: 70,000 - 100,000 USD

PROVENANCE: With Charles Angell of Bath, circa 1929, and advertised in The Connoisseur, October 1929, LXXII
William Blaythwayt, Eagle House, Batheaston, SomersetThence by descent to Miss M. Blaythwayt, and sold for her executors by Messrs, Curtis and Henson, on the premises, March 29-30, 1962
With Mallett & Son (Antiques) Ltd. London
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, Virginia, acquired with assistance of R. W. Symonds
Christie's, New York, January 26, 1996, lot 528
Sotheby's, New York, Tom Devenish: The Collection, April 24, 2008, lot 72

NOTE DE CATALOGUE: The present chair relates to a design for a `Chinese Chair' published by Thomas Chippendale in The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Director, 3rd edition, 1762, pl. 26. They are designated as `Designs of Chairs after the Chinese Manner, and are very proper for a Lady's Dressing-Room: especially if it is hung with India Paper. They will Likewise suite Chinese Tempels (sic).'

Sotheby's. Important English and European Decorative Arts. New York | 26 oct. 2012 www.sothebys.com