IN THE MANNER OF MAYHEW AND INCE, CIRCA 1775

The fluted seatrails interspersed with flowerheads and ringed-fluted legs feature on a suite of seat furniture supplied to 3rd Earl of Darnley for Cobham Hall (sold the property of a Lady, Christie's London, 19 November 1992, lots 104-105) and another suite supplied to Chirk Castle, Denbighshire, both attributed to Mayhew and Ince who worked extensively at both houses. The closeness in design between seat furniture produced by Mayhew and Ince and Thomas Chippendale's workshop during this time can be appreciated in the design of the raised wreath-embellished cresting on these these chairs (see C.Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, New York, 1978, vol.II, p. 109, pl.185-186). These chairs feature an unusual pegged construction which is not a standard constructional technique of either workshop.