Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The chair with rush slip seat features a distinctive carved and pierced crest rail [scrolled terminals centering pierced and carved leaf center] above a vase shape-splat set within molded keeper-rail flanked by molded posts continuing to square raking legs. The mortise and tenon joined trapezoidal seat frame containing woven rush seat is within a shaped skirt [the front rail incised] joining block-and-vase-turned front legs terminating on carved and scrolled Spanish feet. The legs are joined by turned ball-and-ring front stretcher, rear stretcher, and rectangular side stretchers.
The apron reverse bears a paper loan label from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston: “M.F.A. 426 Lent by Hermann F. Clarke”
This chair is virtually identical to a set of four chairs that descended from John Gaines III through the Brewster family; sold at auction in 1998.*
This chair was one of a pair sold by Israel Sack, Inc. and was illustrated in several publications while in the collection of noted collectors Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel Taradash.
* Trent, Gronning, and Anderson, The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating in Northeastern New England; page 141. “Origins of the Gaines Attributions”.
** Trent, Gronning, and Anderson, The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating in Northeastern New England; page 140, figure 1. The image depicts retaining strips which are restored.
Item Date: Circa 1735-1740
Material: Maple, ash front stretcher
Item Condition: Very good, commensurate with age and use. Seat retaining strips [a flat molding] have been missing for a very long time. See, Trent, Gronning, and Anderson, The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating in Northeastern New England; page 140, figure 1.**
Provenance: Israel Sack, Inc. New York, New YorkMr. and Mrs. Mitchel TaradashIsrael Sack, Inc. New York, New YorkPrivate Collection to Antique Associates
Literature: The Decorative Arts of New Hampshire: 1725-1825, Currier Gallery of Art, 1964; plate 7.Living with Antiques, E.P. Dutton & Co, 1963, p. 93.The Magazine Antiques, January 1953, p. 46.Four Centuries of Furniture in Portsmouth with the New Hampshire Furniture Masters, by Gerald W.R. Ward, Hollis Brodrick and Lainey McCartney, p. 40
SKU 935-105
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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