ATTRIBUTED TO GILES GRENDEY, CIRCA 1740

The chair can be attributed to the Clerkenwell cabinet-maker Giles Grendey (d. 1780) by the presence of the 'RW' stamp found on the inner surfaces of the rear legs. Journeyman chair-makers in Grendey's employment appear to have regularly, if not routinely, initialled their work. The same stamp appears on a set of probably twelve walnut chairs and a settee attributed to Grendey. Of that set, six chairs (plus the unstamped settee) were in the collection formed by Viscount Leverhulme (d. 1925), four were acquired in 1975 by Noel Terry for Fairfax House, York, and a further pair was sold Christie's, London, 25 June 1981, lot 25 (L. Wood, The Upholstered Furniture in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool, 2008, vol. I, no. 20, pp. 245 - 263). Another chair corresponding closely to Grendey's oeuvre and also bearing the 'RW' stamp was sold anonymously Christie's, London, 17 March 2011, lot 204 (£3,750 including premium).