circa 1758-1765, designed by James "Athenian" Stuart and attributed to cabinetmaker John Gordon, London, cartouche seatback with arched crest rail carved with floral, acanthus and beaded motifs, base of seatback with carved palmette medallion, foliate carved scrolled arms, serpentine seat and rail centered by a palmette medallion and scrolled fluted banners, palmette carved cabriole legs, heavily scrolled feet, removable upholstered back and seat with likely original hog hair stuffing, 40 x 26-1/2 x 26 in.

Provenance: Ex. Collection of Edwin Herzog, New York and Charleston, South Carolina; An Important Southern Institution

Note: These exceptionally fine chairs are identical to and probably from the same set as a well documented pair of chairs from Nuneham Park in Oxfordshire, commissioned by Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, who later became the Viceroy of Ireland during the late 18th century. They are also closely related to a set of chairs from Spencer House in Westminster, commissioned by John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer, of whom Diana, Princess of Wales was a direct descendant. According to Spencer House documentation, Simon Harcourt was a patron of architect and designer James "Athenian" Stuart, who designed Spencer House and is attributed to the design of the chairs offered here. Harcourt also held close ties to the Spencer Family.

in a fine state of overall preservation, chairs appear to retain mostly original gilt surface with scattered losses and very small old gilt retouches, one chair with repair at proper right crest rail joint, original removable seatback and seat with muslin upholstery over likely original hog hair stuffing, seatback frame and seat rail with many upholstery tack holes, one chair with some restorations apparent on underside of seat rail, chairs originally had casters that have since been filled and capped, one chair with repaired foot, other wear and imperfections expected with age and use