Armchair
Complex pierced central splat with cutout hearts
New York, possibly Long Island
Circa 1800
 |
 |
This chair represents a rhythmic uninhibited freestyle variation previously unrecorded; the parts and ornamentation of this maple armchair are in perfect harmony. The outline of the back and shape of top rail conforms to those generally known to have been made at New York with some southwestern Connecticut influence. The yoke shaped crest rail having rounded ear-shoulders is pinned to the turned and tapered stiles. The complex design of the pierced splat is outstanding...openwork heart above a lyrical form centered by a double figure eight above the out swept bottom section with yet another heart; splat is let into the shaped lower back rail. The set back out swept flat arms with shaped handholds are let into stiles and pinned; supported by rapidly transitioned robust turned down-weighted arm supports that are tenoned into turned side stretchers. The corner-blocked seat above turned and tapered front legs joined by ring, reel and compressed ball turnings. The chair is in old black paint. (Height; 43-inches; seat height: 15.5-inches; width: 22-inches; depth: 16.25-inches; height of arm from floor is 23.75-inches.)
Price: $14,750
570-51
A Scarcely Encountered Red Painted Chest
Size, color, understated elegance and surface
New England
18th Century
This small deep well chest with molded lift top retains its original snipe hinges; the box above single long-drawer is defined by a robust molding above the tall Queen Anne base profile that calls attention to the center drop with conforming reversed curve terminating in a single lobe. Original dry red paint!!! (Height 44-inches; width: 37.75-inches; depth: 16.75-inches.)
Price: $11,750
179-1
Slat-Back Arm Chair
With mushroom terminals
Probably Connecticut
Circa 1730, maple and ash - SOLD
In the tradition of earlier great chairs...this example has 2-inch front and rear posts; the rear posts having bold ball finials above double reel turnings. The front posts have large mushroom handgrips that are approximately 3.5-inches across above the vasiform turnings. A nice feature are the thick gently sloping flat arms that are rounded at the front and rear where mortised into the posts; notched and incised detail delineates and adds further visual interest. The chair has a nice old nut brown color and is structurally sound; there are no replacements other than the seat, which is old. The chair remains at about full original height. As was common, rockers were added, probably during the nineteenth century rocking rage; rockers since removed with the mortises filled. (Height of back: 45-inches; height at caps: 29.5-inches; seat height: 16.5-inches; front seat width: 23.75-inches; seat depth: 18-inches.)
287-6 - SOLD
A Good Painted and Paint-Decorated Windsor Bench
Pennsylvania
Circa 1825
This arrow-back bench with plank seat remains in an uncompromised state of originality including the painted and stenciled decoration done in green, off-white, black; pumpkin pie orange, yellow and bronze powder...against a lovely green.
The length is 72.5-inches; back height is 34-inches with a seat depth of 16-inches.
Price: $16,500
PB354
Queen Anne Flattop Highboy
Eighteenth Century
New England, butternut and white pine
The top case with bold cornice having two short drawers over three graduated long overlapping drawers; restored mid-molding sits within the original base molding of lower case. The base with sophisticated skirt is raised on cabriole legs ending in pad feet; two overlapping drawers, the lower drawer molded simulating three short drawers with a splendid central fan having 18-lobes. Although mounted within the original holes the brasses are replaced; all but one knee bracket are old replacements with one fishtail being replaced. The twentieth century resin stained surface is tinted red. (Top case: 35.625 by 17.25-inches; lower case: 38 by 19-inches; widest dimension at mid-molding: 39.125-inches; height: 72.5-inches.)
Price: $12,500
MEI4
Outstanding "Shaped-Splat-Back" Paint Decorated
Windsor Chairs
New York State, (Savannah.)
Circa 1810-1820
This set of spectacular and fine freehand decorated fancy Windsor side-chairs remains in terrific original condition. The rose, foliate and rosebud decoration within salmon frieze against the bright yellow paint conform to and accentuate the splat. The "thumb back" stiles with salmon paint and fanciful flourishes draw the eye upwards. The nicely shaped seats outlined with salmon paint are comfortable and nicely undercut with crisp leading edge...these comfortable chairs are of successful form and angulation. Tight and functional with about 100% paint coverage. Each chair is signed with Savannah (Height: 33-inches; seat height is 17-inches; seat depth: 13.5-inches; seat width: 15-inches.)
Price: $14,750
HWA120
Tall Clock...with best Masonic dial
Scotland
Circa 1835
A small mahogany case with an eight-day movement and enameled dial.
The incredible dial has all Masonic symbols and even a compass and square motif forming the spandrels. The hands are original including second bit and calendar; clock is mechanically fine and stands at 88.75-inches.
Price: $7,500
980-2
Large Chair-Table On Turned Base
Birch and pine
New England
Circa 1800
This large table having a 46 by 47.75-inch scrubbed top with superb color; top consists of three white pine boards mounted on cleats. The top is raised on a nicely turned base with turned handholds; feet remain at full height. The generous overhand allows for comfortable seating. Uniform strong traces of original red surface.
Price: $7,750
501-4
Turned great-chair with oversized pommels and tallest finials...
Early, large and substantial
New London County, Connecticut
Circa 1680
Ash
This monumental chair may fill this gap in the object record. While the chair assumes the basic configuration of archetypical New London County turned-chairs, it exhibits subtle structural and ornamental variations that suggest a probable earlier date of manufacture. Overall, the chair is larger and more substantial than the standard New London County turned-chair. The posts are massive, exceeding 2.5-inches in diameter. The finials are the tallest and most robust examples known. The posts are turned with a dense sequence of urns, rings, and incised lines that reflects the compressed character of mid 17th-century turned ornament. Additionally, the chair is constructed entirely of ash, a wood more familiar to immigrant turners than the maple used for the pots of virtually all other New London County turned-chairs.
Condition
This New London County great-chair has sustained some loss and damage during the course of its use. However, the visual and academic importance of the chair balances any issues of condition. When old upholstery was removed, the shaped profiles were lost from the upper edges of the slats. These missing elements have been restored based upon the pattern of other intact New London County turned-chairs. The posts have been extended about 6", although the lower row of stretchers is intact. Probably during the 19th-century, a horizontal brace was installed behind the finials. This addition necessitated the removal of the back profile of the finials and top section of the posts, a missing element also recently restored. The present coat of black paint dates to the 20th-century.
References
Another New London County turned-chair with unusually heavy ash posts is owned by the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and is illustrated in American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection, p. 2; catalog entry f-2. Other information is available by request.
Price: $28,500
621-18
NEW JERSEY KAS
Fine example of a New Jersey kas, gum with walnut veneers, poplar secondary, circa 1780, attributed to Matthew Egerton of New Brunswick, N.J. In excellent overall condition, including original lock and brass. Height. 78 ½-inches; Width. 60-inches (case), 75 ½-inches (cornice); Depth. 20-inches (case), 28-inches (cornice).
Price: $24,500
SHA384
|
