Yes, it looks like it could be the same manufacturer!
Horner was known for his/their griffins, but I've seen many different and unusual figures on lesser known pieces.
Without a label of some kind it's almost impossible to be definitive. For all we know it could be another maker completely; I recently saw a dining room set that could easily have been Horner, but the label said Johnston. Who knows?
Nevertheless, you make a good case. All I know is, I'd be happy to own a Karpen chair with accomplished carving like that, but not for 3K!!