Rare Queen Anne Carved and Figured Walnut Compass-Seat Side Chair, Philadelphia, circa 1745

chair marked VI and slip seat marked IV, retains rich historic surface, spurs on splat replaced.

Christie's, New York, Important American Furniture, Folk Art and Decorative Arts, October 21, 1994, sale 7980, lot 176.

George Parker, “Early American Furniture in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Academy Review,  43: 2 (Spring 1997), 9.

Left and right spurs ears on splat restored.
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.

With this side chair's design incorporating the S-curve or line of beauty celebrated by William Hogarth, it is a dynamic example of the Queen Anne style, characterized by a shell-carved crest rail, cyma curved stiles framing the splat, compass-shaped seat and shell-carved cabriole legs with paneled trifid feet. The pierced vase shaped splat with a spade and inverted heart cutout is an early manifestation of the Rococo style. 

A nearly identical walnut side chair is illustrated in Israel Sack Inc., American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, Volume VIII, P5551, p. 2079. A similar chair is illustrated in Joseph K. Kindig III, The Philadelphia Chair 1685-1785 (York, 1978), no. 23. A walnut armchair from a related set has a history in the family of Thomas Chandler (1709-1785) of Westminster, Vermont. It is currently in the collection of Bayou Bend.¹ Another chair of the same pattern is illustrated in Alice Winchester’s article, “Living with Antiques: Cliveden, the Germantown home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chew,” The Magazine Antiques (December 1959): 74.

¹ See David Warren, et al, American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection (Houston, 1998), F49, p. 29.