Lot 975
  • 975

A VERY FINE AND RARE WILLIAM AND MARY BLACK-PAINTED ASH BANISTER BACK SIDE CHAIR, PROBABLY PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, CIRCA 1725 |

Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Height 46 in.; 116.8 cm.

Provenance

H.L. Chalfant Antiques, West Chester, Pennsylvania, October 1999;
Vogel Collection no. 663.

Condition

Overall fine condition. Wear, loss, and discoloration to the painted surface commensurate with age and use. Some old age cracks visible. Width: 19 1/8 in.; Depth: 15 in.
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.

Catalogue Note

This chair, with its offset, turned back posts, is a very early banister back form probably made in or around Philadelphia. It appears that it was once part of a larger set of side chairs, which are all easily recognised as being "the same." In fact, they are quite separate in the turning details. Two from the set sold at Pook & Pook, Inc., Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Period Furniture, Fine Art, & Accessories, January 14, 2012, lot 40.  A joined walnut armchair with a very similar crest purportedly made by Joseph Pennock (1677-1771) is in Primitive Hall (c. 1738), West Grove, Pennsylvania (see William Macpherson Hornor, Jr, Blue Book, Philadelphia furniture: William Penn to George Washington, (Philadelphia, PA: Hornor, 1935), pl 10).  For other related joined armchairs see Joseph K Kindig III, The Philadelphia Chair: 1685-1785, (York, PA: The Historical Society of York County, 1978), no. 10 and Pook & Pook, Inc., Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Period Furniture, Fine Art, & Accessories, January 14, 2012, lot 40.