Fine 18th Century Chippendale Mahogany Gainsborough Armchair

This is an exceptionally fine 18th Century Chippendale mahogany Gainsborough armchair of good colour and patina. In very good and solid condition retaining all the original rails. The swept arms carved with acanthus leaf, flowers and scrolls. The cabriole legs that are quite exceptional and relate to those by Thomas Chippendale having extremely fine foliate work, the carving flows seamlessly with scrolling curled leaves, flowers and Acanthus from the top onto the ear pieces all the way down the leg and over the beautifully shaped scroll foot. A rare feature of this chair is the way the carving covers the entire leg and not for example just the knee and feet as is often the case. Provenance:- The collection of Eric W Towler of Glympton Park. A similar example sold at Sotheby''s on the 18th November 2011 in the Important Euro Dec Arts Sale, lot 266. It was stated that the design of the carving of the front legs of this finely proportioned armchair, with its foliate-enriched looped strapwork and scrolled toes, is closely related to plate XII of the First Edition of Thomas Chippendale''s, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker''s Director, published in 1754.