- 958
RENAISSANCE REVIVAL CARVED OAK 'UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' ARMCHAIR, ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN HAMMITT'S DESK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA, Circa 1857
Estimate
6,000 - 12,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- oak
- Height 39 3/4 in.
Catalogue Note
Sotheby's would like to thank Farar Elliot for his provision of the following history:
While the firm Bembé and Kimbel did make many of the 1857 chairs, it did not make all of them. John Hammitt’s Desk Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia was contracted to provide half of the 262 chairs. Two companies were used (and indeed a third one, for the 262 desks) when it appeared that time was running short for all the work to be completed before the opening of the new House Chamber. The Bembé and Kimbel chairs were purchased at a cost of $70 apiece. Almost immediately, the Desk Manufacturing Company was contracted to make the remaining 131 chairs, at $75 apiece. The furniture arrived at the Capitol on November 23, 1857, and was installed on December 4.
While the firm Bembé and Kimbel did make many of the 1857 chairs, it did not make all of them. John Hammitt’s Desk Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia was contracted to provide half of the 262 chairs. Two companies were used (and indeed a third one, for the 262 desks) when it appeared that time was running short for all the work to be completed before the opening of the new House Chamber. The Bembé and Kimbel chairs were purchased at a cost of $70 apiece. Almost immediately, the Desk Manufacturing Company was contracted to make the remaining 131 chairs, at $75 apiece. The furniture arrived at the Capitol on November 23, 1857, and was installed on December 4.
One can tell the difference between the two companies’ work in one easy look at the base of the seat box. It is carved with a continuous guilloche border. On the Desk Manufacturing Company, the centers of the guilloches are dotted with bosses, as in a similar example from the collection at the House of Representatives.