Exceptional Pilgrim Century Brown-Painted Turned Maple Spindle-Back Armchair, New York or Western Connecticut, Circa 1685

Retains a rich dark historic surface; splint seat possibly original; feet reduced in height.

Israel Sack, Inc., New York.

American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol 2. (Washington, DC: Highland House Publishers, Inc., 1976), p. 367, no. 918.

Wear commensurate with age and use. The woven seat is in need of repair. Comes with some of the detached fragments of the seat.
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 armchair is one of the very few surviving seventeenth century spindle-back armchairs made in or near New York City. Traits associating this chair to New York are its underarm turnings and compressed ball turnings on its front posts.  These ball turnings relate directly to those found on other contemporaneous Hudson River Valley chairs (see Erik Kyle Gronning, "Early New York Turned Chairs: A Stoelendraaier's Conceit," American Furniture 2001, ed. Luke Beckerdite, (Milwaukee, Chipstone Foundation, 2001), pp. 88-119).