A George II elm and yew 'comb' back Windsor armchair, mid-18th century

A George II elm and yew 'comb' back Windsor armchair, mid-18th century, from the Thames Valley region, the scroll carved centred by a shell motif, above a vase shaped splat and turned supports, the solid 'saddle' seat flanked by 'horseshoe' shaped arms, on tapering cabriole legs terminating in pad feet at the front, joined by an H-shaped stretcher, 100cm high, 68cm wide, 47cm deep

Provenance: Private Collection, Richmond, Surrey

For closely related designs of chair of the period made in the Thames Valley see Bernard D. Cotton, The English Regional Chair, The Antique Collectors Club, 1990, page 45, figures TV14, TV15 & TV16.

Condition Report:
Marks, scratches and abrasions comensurate with age and use Old chips and splits. some old repairs. Some additional wear in areas, including to uppermost edge of carved shell terminal some small old nails used to secure some elements such as brackets at top of legs. Very good original surface throughout, with some additional wear to areas of the back arms as would be expected from use. The existing patina is good and very dark in some areas, where the chair has likely been in a smoky environment. The surface is original throughout. Some old warping to the back has caused the centre of the top rail oft he back to be raised away from the top of the central splat (see image) Some minor old evidence of worm damage. Mainly to some areas of the seat. Old spliced elements to the front right hand foot and base of leg (see images) . There is what appears to be a detached but re-glued element to the front left foot (see image) . No obvious repairs to the stretchers or rear legs. A good and interesting chair in largely original condition with a genuine unusual feature of the carved shell to the top rail. Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition.