Possibly Ohio Valley
Four cane bottomed fancy chairs, in yellow paint with gilt highlights, each crest rail depicting acorn and oak leaves, centered by a portrait of a different political figure, including Isaac Shelby 1750-1826), William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), James K. Polk (1795-1849) and George Wythe (1726-1806), each example with an eagle form splat.
Shelby, Harrison, and Polk rose to political prominence West of the Appalachians in Kentucky, Indiana Territory, and Tennessee respectively, serving as governors of each state. Harrison and Polk served as the ninth and 11th Presidents of the United States. Wythe, a lawyer, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, lived his entire life in Virginia and mentored Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, and other political powerhouses.
Shelby’s inclusion here is odd. His portrait is based upon the circa 1820 painting by Kentucky artist Matthew Harris Jewett (1788-1827). While it is tempting to suggest that these chairs were made in a shop somewhere in Kentucky to commemorate Western politicians, such an attribution awaits further research.
Item Date: Third-Quarter 19th Century
Measurement: Height: 33.5"
Item Condition: Overall good, commensurate with age and use, typical trivial dings.
Price: $11,500
SKU 1521-1
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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