Important Pair of George II Armchairs

Description

Unusual pair of George II armchairs, each with arched scrolling foliate cresting centered by a heraldic device depicting an ostrich over a coat of arms over a foliate carved central splat flanked by gothic arches, the curved arms carved with foliate sprays and ruffles over a serpentine over-upholstered seat and molded legs joined by canted faceted stretchers.
An identical pair of chairs (and possibly this pair), formerly in the last castle built in England (Castle Drogo designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens early 20th Century), sold Christies in 1975 to Devenish, one of the leading English Furniture dealers at the time. Another pair, but lacking the ostrich above the crest, was sold by Devenish and was thought to be the pair from Castle Drogo after having been altered.  These chairs therefore are either the original pair from Drogo, or from the same suite. An identical chair sold at Christie’s, NY on Oct. 20, 2011.Randolph Antiques had an identical armchair at the Grosvenor House Fair, the year is unknown.
Now upholstered in grey/sage raw silk (as seen in second to last photo)
Seat height: 19″