George II mahogany chair back settee in the manner of Giles Grendey (c. 1735 England)

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Mahogany

63.00inch wide    41.00inch high    23.00inch deep (160.02 cm wide  104.14 cm high  58.42 cm deep)

From a private residence in Yorkshire.

English, George II, circa 1735.

Excellent. Possible minor old restorations, waxing. The seat cover is a later replacement.

A very fine George II mahogany chair back settee. The backs with scrolling, moulded perimeter rails surrounding a pair of shield shaped central splats, with tightly carved scrolls to both sides, a carved shell between the backs. The arms curve outwards and terminate with a fabulous carved lions head either side. A drop in seat sits within well figured front and side rails and supported by cabriole legs to the front with shell carved knees with emanating acanthus spray terminating in a ball and claw foot. The lions head hand rest is a notable feature of chairs made by renowned London maker Giles Grendey.

Giles Grendey was born in Gloucestershire in 1693 and, aged 16, came to London as an apprentice to William Sherborne. His first commission was for Richard Hoare of Barn Elmes. The 'Cabinet-Maker and Chair-Maker' Giles Grendey, who was described in 1740 as 'A great Dealer in the Cabinet Way', carried out a considerable export trade from Aylesbury House in St. John's Square. He was appointed Upper Warden of the Joiner's Company in 1747 and its Master in 1766. His son-in-law, John Cobb, was granted a court appointment as cabinet-maker to George III.