An exceptional and highly important pair of mid 18th century carved mahogany armchairs, in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, having upholstered serpentine shaped backs, with padded outswept arms on finely carved downswept supports, and seats covered in earlier French needlework above serpentine shaped front and side rails deeply and crisply carved with acanthus leaf, C-scrolls and central cabochons; on cabriole legs with acanthus clasp to the knees, terminating in inwardly scrolled toes with cabochon clasp and on leather castors.
These extremely well executed chairs once formed part of a larger suite with two other known chairs, one formerly in the Henry Hirsch collection, and the other in a private collection in England.
The design derives directly from the plate XXIII of the third edition of Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet-maker's Director, with an alternative back section.
Note:  One chair stamped 'W.H.' five times.