Pair of George II Mahongay Side Chairs

Footnote: A closely related pair of chairs, previously in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago was sold at auction in New York – January 26th-27th, 2000 (Lot #264 – $34,340.00 and another sale at Sotheby’s in 2008 (Devenish Collection- $55,000.00) and an identical set of four chairs were sold in New York in 1978 (Sotheby’s – Parke-Bernet). The form of the splat is very unusual, loosely related to designs of c. 1745 by William De la Cour. It has been suggested that these chairs might have been made in the northern part of England, however, the tight scrolling on the top-rail and on the ‘C’ scrolls on the legs relates to that seen on Irish Furniture.