A highly important and outstanding quality pair of mid 18th century carved mahogany library armchairs in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, each having a serpentine crested back, with padded arms on downswept carved mahogany supports, and padded seat upholstered with extremely fine and colourful 18th century petit-point needlework; the seat rails with a shaped apron carved with C-scrolls and central acanthus clasp to the front; on cabriole legs with leaf carving to the knees and scroll toes terminating in leather castors. The back legs are conformingly cabriole, terminating in pad feet with leather castors.
Note: The needlework, with minor extensions, originally made in the 1740s by Mrs. Lucy Baines of Bell Hall, Yorkshire, and is mentioned in the will of 1759 of her husband, Hewley Baines, bequeathing it back to her upon his death before passing by family descent.