The Exceptional Alexander King Chippendale Carved Cherrywood Side Chair, made by Eliphalet Chapin (1741-1807), East Windsor, Connecticut, 1781

Appears to retain original surface as well as its original slip seat with its original webbing and sack cloth under upholstery. Chair and seat frame each marked II. Together with An American Silver Pointed-End Tea Spoon, Jacob Sargeant, Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1790-1800, mongramed AK. (2 pieces)

Originally owned by Alexander (1749-1831) and Abigail (Olcott) King (1759/60-1829) of East Windsor, Connecticut;
To their unmarried daughter, Harriet King (1795-1884), who remained in the family house;
To her nephew Frederick Alexander King (1833-1923), who inherited the house;
To his daughter, Mabel Delia King (1874-1954), who married William P. Green;
To her sister, Katherine L. King (1881-1964);
To her niece Deborah (Olcott) King Walker (1911-1993), who sold it to the current owner.

Morgan Memorial, Hartford, Connecticut, Three Centuries of Connecticut Furniture, 1635 to 1935, June 15-October 15, 1935, no. 149, lent by Mrs. William P. Green.

Secondary wood is white pine; minor abrasions to surface consistent with age and use; appears to retain its original webbing and sack cloth under upholstery as well as its original drop in slip seat frame.
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.

Retaining part of its original surface, this cherrywood side chair has the number II incised on its seat frame and II on its original white pine slip seat frame.  It is part of a set made by Eliphalet Chapin (1741-1807) for Alexander King (1749-1831), a farmer and neighbor in East Windsor, Connecticut. The original bill of sale (now lost) indicates King paid Chapin for a set of 6 chairs in 1781, probably around the time of his marriage to Abigail Olcott (1759/60-1829).  This set is likely the  “6 cherry chairs” valued at $9.00 in his estate inventory.

The history of this chair is recorded in a note dated July 28, 1991 written by Deborah King Walker (1911-1993), a sixth generation descendant of Alexander King and the last family member to own the chair. At Alexander and Abigail King’s death, their unmarried daughter, Harriet King (1795-1884), inherited the family house and its contents. This chair was among the “4 chairs @ $2.00” listed in her probate distribution record. Harriet’s nephew, Frederick Alexander King (1833-1923), inherited the house after her death. His daughter Mabel Delia King Green (1874-1954) subsequently owned the chair and the graphite inscription on the underside of the rear seat rails reading “Mrs. Mabel King Green, So. Windsor, Conn” refers to her tenure. Her sister, Katherine King (1881-1964), inherited the chair at Mabel’s death.  Deborah Walker obtained the chair from her estate and later sold it to the current owner. She also gave a high chest attributed to Eliphalet Chapin to the Winterthur Museum (see Nancy Richards and Nancy Evans, New England Furniture at Winterthur, 1997, no. 174, pp. 345-8).

Two side chairs from the same set, numbers III and IIII, are in the collection of the Yale University Art Gallery (#’s 1930.2516a and b). One is illustrated in Joseph Lionetti and Robert Trent’s article, “New Information about Chapin Chairs” published in The Magazine Antiques (May 1986): fig. 1, p. 1083.  In 1877, Irving W. Lyon (1804-1896) purchased the pair from Harriet King (mentioned above), Alexander’s daughter, and saw the original bill of sale from Chapin to Alexander King during the transaction. He later referenced the set and bill of sale in his book, The Colonial Furniture of New England, published in 1891, stating that he was “familiar with a set of Chippendale chairs with ball and claw feet made by Eliphalet Chapin, of South Windsor, Conn., as late as the year 1781. The price paid for them at that time was 1 pound apiece.” He wrote this history on a note attached to the underside of one of the chairs “The two…were part of a set … 1781 by Eph ... Chapin of South Windsor … their original price in 17… was $5…Lyon work book.” The Yale chairs retain their original webbing, sackcloth, marsh-grass stuffing, linen undercovers, and thin calf leather covers underneath the modern leather upholstery on their seats. Identical original upholstery materials are found on the seat of another side chair at the Connecticut Historical Society that appears to also belong to the King set (Acc. #1974.98.2).