CIRCA 1740, PROBABLY DUBLIN

These chairs originally formed part of a large and important suite of Irish seat-furniture discussed in The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, Woodwork and Carving in Ireland from the Earliest Times to the Act of Union, New Haven and London, 2007, p. 216, cat. no. 52, and p. 219, cat. no. 59. They have facetted legs in the manner of a scallop shell, echoing the shell which centres the apron. This 'sock' or collar is a feature found on Irish furniture of the 18th century, in particular on side tables (see ibid., cat. nos. 87 and 89).
The suite is known to also comprise: an armchair sold anonymously, Christie's, New York, 20 January 1996, lot 366, possibly the same as that sold from the collection of the late Brigadier W. E. Clarke, CMG, DSO, Christie's, London, 25 July 1969, lot 79 (illustrated ibid., p. 216); a settee in a Private Collection in America; and a stool formerly with Mallett Ltd., London, 1994 (illustrated ibid., p. 219).