CIRCA 1775, POSSIBLY BY MAYHEW AND INCE

The distinct design of the molded arms which scroll down directly into the top of the leg, and the constructional cramp cuts to the seat rails, are both features which appear on chairs by pre-eminent makers Mayhew and Ince. A comparable set of chairs attributed to the firm was supplied to George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick for Warwick Castle (at Warwick until 1968 and later sold at Christie's, London, 10 April 2003, lot 25). A further suite was supplied for the Saloon at Chirk Castle, Denbighshire, where correspondence between Ince and Richard Myddleton dates to 1782-83. Two pairs of chairs from the suite sold Chirk Castle, Christie's, London, 21 June 2004, lots 50 and 51. A suite from Cobham Hall, Kent, also now attributed to them, shared this arm design with a husk-entwined flowerhead cresting (sold Christie's, London, 19 November 1992, lot 104).