拍品 1416
  • 1416

VERY FINE AND RARE PAIR OF QUEEN ANNE CARVED, TURNED AND JOINED GRAIN-PAINTED MAPLE SIDE CHAIRS, ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN GAINES III (1704-1743), PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CIRCA 1735-1743 |

估價
40,000 - 60,000 USD
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招標截止

描述

  • Height 40 5/8 in.
each retains an early 19th century grain-painted surface over likely the original painted surface. one chair with losses to front feet.

來源

Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, Oak Hill Farm, Red Bank, New Jersey.

Condition

Each in overall fine condition. Wear, discoloration, and flaking to the paint commensurate with age and use. Slip seats are replaced. Chair A - There is an old crack to the proper right side of the crestrail, approximately 1" above the junction with the stile. Wear and little loss to the scroll feet. Chair B - The crestrail was previously cracked and reglued at the junction with the proper left stile and metal brackets have been added at each side of the crestrail on the backside at the junction with the stiles. 3 out of 4 lamanants on the scroll feet are lacking, the only one still in tact is on the proper right side
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.

拍品資料及來源

Rarely do chairs appear in the marketplace with as much integrity as this pair.  Originating from the workshop of John Gaines III, these two chairs are very important documents to the various seating furniture made in the shop.  The only securely documented seating by Gaines are four surviving chairs from a set he made for personal use.  The chairs descended in the Brewster family of Portsmouth, New Hampshire until sold at Northeast Auctions in two pairs of chairs on November 8, 1998, lots 1097 and 1098.  The currently offered chairs display striking similarities in the carving of the crest and turning profiles to the Brewster set.  The only noticeable difference is the profile of the splat which on the currently offered chairs has a cyma curve above the baluster as opposed to the Brewster splat’s cavetto. Another pair of chairs survive that may be part of the same set as the currently offered lot (see American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol. 8, (Washington, DC: Highland House Publishers Inc., 1986), p.2236, no. P5775).  Their family history notes that they descended in the Tufts family.
Structurally there is another difference.  The generally accepted understanding is that Gaines chairs have brush feet constructed from the solid.  One chair from this pair has solid feet while the other chair’s feet was built up with laminates and then carved.  The loss to the chair’s toes demonstrates likely why Gaines adapted the practice of making his feet from the solid.  Any moisture from the floor would negatively react with the hide glue used to secure the foot and those small pieces would go missing.  Therefore these chairs broaden our understanding of the various splat styles and foot construction emanating from the Gaines shop.  For a thorough analysis of John Gaines II and III seating furniture see Robert F. Trent, Erik Gronning and Alan Anderson, “The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating Furniture in Northeastern New England,” American Furniture 2010, ed. Luke Beckerdite, (Milwaukee, WI, Chipstone Foundation, 2010), pp. 140-193.