I'am restoring a dining chair for a friend but don't know what type it is,it has a balloon back cabriole leg

Question:it has a shell carving on the top rail and the middle rail. I think it is made from mahogany. I can supply a picture if required.

Answers:
You sound like the ideal person to take on this restoration job, you don't know what it is or what it is made of, but are prepared to ruin it hacking it about, The stuff that made Britain - Great Britain.