TWO CIRCA 1730, SIX PROBABLY 18TH CENTURY AND REDECORATED

These chairs, exotically coloured in Chinese red with parcel-gilding, shaped moulded stretchers and caned seat, relate to one of the most celebrated suites of London furniture from the 18th century, known as 'The Infantado Suite' from the castle of Lazcano in northern Spain. Many of the items from the widely dispersed suite are represented in major museums, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, the Metropolitan Museum, New York, Temple Newsam House, Leeds, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. These masterpieces from the Clerkenwell workshop of Giles Grendey (d. 1780) were designed en suite with 'pier-set' card-tables, mirrors and secretaire-cabinets, probably for the Spanish castle of Lazcano. The Lazcano furnishings, comprising more than seventy-seven items, are the largest recorded suite of 18th century English furniture. Part of the suite was published in 1944, photographed in situ in the late 19th century in the Saloon at Lazcano Castle. This was after the majority of the suite had been acquired in 1930 by the Venice-based dealer, Adolph Loewi. Three pairs of chairs from the suite were sold by a charitable trust, Christie's, London, 10 July 2003, lots 132-134. These red-jappaned chairs, in the manner of Giles Grendey (d.1780), relate to one sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 24 November 2005, lot 5.