A Very Fine Queen Anne Carved and Figured Walnut Rounded-Stile Compass-Seat Side Chair, possibly by the Henry Cliffton and Thomas Carteret shop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania circa 1760

chair marked IV with original seat frame marked IV.

The currently offered lot was inherited from the estate of Gainor Roberts and was part of the furniture of Pencoyd Farm.  Gainor Roberts was a ninth-generation descendant of the Roberts family of Pencoyd Farm, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.  Pencoyd Farm was built by John Roberts (1648-1724), a Quaker from Bala, Wales.  It was a working farm until the 1930's and was regrettably razed in 1963.

Secondary wood is yellow pine. Two later triangular glue blocks added to side rail and back rail; circular patches to underside of seat lip; proper right corner of crest rail of junction of stile cracked and re-glued.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This side chairs carving style and construction relates directly to a rounded-stile armchair sold at Sotheby's, Important Americana, October 7, 2006, lot 318 for $2,168,000.  Identical style scroll volutes and shells appears on a dressing tables and tables attributed to the Henry Cliffton and Thomas Carteret shop (see and R. Curt Chinnici, "Pennsylvania Clouded Limestone," in American Furniture ed. Luke Beckerdite, (Milwaukee, WI: Chipstone Foundation, 2002, pp. 110-1, fig 30, n. 19).

A chair from apparently the same set is in the collections of the Rhode Island School of Design and reputedly descended in the Bonschur family of Philadelphia (see Christopher P. Monkhouse and Thomas S. Michie, American Furniture in Pendleton House, (Providence, RI: Museum of Art, RISD, 1986, no. 106, p. 165).  Another chair from this set was one once in the Kauffman collection and is now in the collection of the Chipstone Foundation (see American Antiques from the Israel Sack Collection, Vol. 6,  (Washington, DC: Highland House Publishers Inc., 1979), pp. 1530-1, no. P4604).  Two other chairs are in private collections and are illustrated in American Antiques from the Israel Sack Collection, Vol. 7, (Washington, DC: Highland House Publishers Inc., 1979), p. 1716, no. P4878 and The Seven Gables advertisement, The Magazine Antiques, February 1976, p. 285.  Another chair was sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries Inc., Important American and English  XVIII Century Furniture & Decorations including estates of the late Mrs. J. Insley Blair, January 22 and 23, 1954, sale no. 1485, lot 369 sold for $2,100.