The shell-carved crest rail above a vasiform splat and needlework-upholstered drop-in seat flanked by arms with lion head terminals, on cabriole legs with shell-carved knees and ending in claw-and-ball feet; the seat rail stamped 'I', the drop-in seat frame stamped 'IIII'.

Height 39 3/4 in (100.9 cm), width over arms 30 1/2 in (77.4 cm), depth of seat 18 in (45.7 cm)

This model of chair attributed to Giles Grendey was always considered to be one of the finest in Percival Griffiths' collection. That armchair is now in the Bryan Collection, Crab Tree Farm, Lake Bluff, Illinois. From the collection of Dr. Frank Crozer Knowles, Christie’s, New York 22nd October 1988, lot 243, it was purchased from Vernay & Jussel, New York, for the Byran Collection in February 1990. The present armchair is stamped 'I' and the Bryan chair is stamped 'XIII', suggesting an important commission for a large and impressive set of armchairs.Save

Other examples include: Christie, Manson and Woods, London, March 28, 1935, lot 85, from the collection of Lady Helen Rose Dewar; Christie, Manson and Woods, May 26, lot 26, from the collection of Herbert Rothbarth; Parke-Bernet Galleries, December 3, 1938, lot 78, sold anonymously; Parke-Bernet Galleries, James Donahue Collection, November 2-4, 1967, lot 574; Sotheby's, London, June, 14, 1985, lot 62; Phillips, Polpier House sale from the collection of R. Strauss Polpier, May 30, 1991, lot 42; Sotheby's, New York, October 21, 2004, lot 452.

See:
R. W. Symonds, English Furniture from Charles II to George II, London, 1929, p. 30, fig. 19, p. 149, fig. 95.
The Antique Collector, July-August, 1951, The Chair with the Bended Back, R. W. Symonds, pp. 155-161.

C. Jussel & W. DeGregorio, English Furniture 1680-1760 The Percival Griffiths Collection, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2023, vol. I, p. 106, F76.

Previous restorations, overall good condition commensurate with age and use, old marks and scratches, veneer stress cracks to upper right side of splat below junction of crest rail and now with small triangular patch to edge, 1 3/8 inch loss to molded edge at upper curve of right stile, 5/8 inch loss to molded edge of right stile above junction of armrest, shims at back junctions of stiles and armrests, small chip to top of upright under right handhold, rubbing to handholds, possible repaired break to bottom of right upright, interior seat rails veneered on all sides, later back corner blocks, 3 inch oval patch to left side of left back leg, left front leg with later right ear and backing, both front legs with veneer stress cracks at junctures of rails, right front leg ear with screw to side, lacking scroll to left shell of front left leg, repair to backing of corner block of front right leg and now with 2 1/4 inch shim, rubbing to foliate decoration of front legs, fresh scratches to back of back rest, especially to left back stile, worming to seat rails.

Previous restorations, overall good condition commensurate with age and use, old marks and scratches, veneer stress cracks to upper right side of splat below junction of crest rail and now with small triangular patch to edge, 1 3/8 inch loss to molded edge at upper curve of right stile, 5/8 inch loss to molded edge of right stile above junction of armrest, shims at back junctions of stiles and armrests, small chip to top of upright under right handhold, rubbing to handholds, possible repaired break to bottom of right upright, interior seat rails veneered on all sides, later back corner blocks, 3 inch oval patch to left side of left back leg, left front leg with later right ear and backing, both front legs with veneer stress cracks at junctures of rails, right front leg ear with screw to side, lacking scroll to left shell of front left leg, repair to backing of corner block of front right leg and now with 2 1/4 inch shim, rubbing to foliate decoration of front legs, fresh scratches to back of back rest, especially to left back stile, worming to seat rails.

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