American Federal Carved Mahogany Side Chair, New York, circa 1790

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American Federal Carved Mahogany Side Chair, New York, circa 1790

About the Item

RARE AND EXCEEDINGLY FINE AMERICAN FEDERAL CARVED MAHOGANY SIDE CHAIR New York c. 1790-1800 with original surface, Inscribed underneath in graphite "E.W." Exhibiting the finest lines and perfect sense of proportion to be found in any form of the period, this rare and incredibly beautiful chair is a work of art in it's purest expression. Flawless balance of proportions is clearly calculated in each member, every part of the chair bringing harmony to the form. Clearly a form originating in New York, there is a set of chairs identical in almost every detail crafted by John Townsend in Newport, Rhode Island - were it not for that set of chairs being labeled, they would never have been attributed to Newport, as the flared French leg is very rare and almost exclusively found in New York. This form was at one point attributed to the shop of Elbert Anderson in New York due to his label being the only currently documented drawing with this precise chair; however, the discovery of the Townsend chairs and a handful of unattributed chairs with minor variations, the attribution is no longer applied to this form. The pierced splat of the shield back features a three-dimensional carved patera beneath a halo of twisting ribbon, draperies flowing from beneath this into and through carved flowers flanking the patera - this is an almost surreal and remarkable design, juxtaposing architecture against nature until they literally become one, the draperies pouring like liquid from the flower motif. The whole is supported by a flor-de-lis beneath a long acanthus leaf, terminating in a criss-cross of splatwork; note in particular the asymmetrical nature of this criss-crossed splat, very intentionally resulting in distinctly varied angles. The flawless replication of this in each of the four splats indicates a certain genius in the hand of this artisan, his attentions shattering the perfect calculations and mirror symmetry of the rest of the splat. The seat has a soft bow to the front, the upholstery nailed over the edge with a thin row of brass tacks - these have not been removed to examine the original arrangement of the brass tacking, though typically these would flow in a swag or double-pinned formation. The underside of the chair is stretched with a pair of fore-aft braces, dividing the underside of the chair into three distinct spaces. The front left corner has a replaced block, the other corners retaining original blocking. The back seat rail is signed in period script "E W", possibly by the craftsman. We have not microanalyzed the secondary woods, though a visual analysis suggests mostly white pine blocking, a tulip poplar back seat rails and ash side and front rails. The legs give a distinct elongating effect to the chairs, each molded and outsplayed in the French manner. The legs are flawlessly formed, each tapering in at a uniform but unpredictable rate, curling outward just above the ankle - the molded appeal of the leg is crisp and precise. Of a form that is nearly without peer, the few chairs of this form identified over the last century now reside mostly in museum and private collections. One chair is held in the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, [acc. no. 2012.63] with provenance from Christies, where it sold in 2012 from the collection of Joseph Ott for $50,000 [sale 2635, lot 156]; the only difference is the legs having stringer inlaid form rather than the molded form in the present chair. Identical form in every detail other than the patera, which is inlaid, can be found in a single side chair offered in the early 1970's by the firm of Israel Sack [American Antiques from the Israel Sack Collection, Vol. III, p. 619 f. 1404]. Similarly catalogued by Israel Sack [American Antiques, Vol. II, p. 536, f. 1263 - attributed to Townsend in Newport] is a c. 1800 example entirely identical, though the legs are stringer inlaid rather than molded. For further reference regarding the rarity and quality of this design, see literature footnotes below. Without question, this chair is one of the most ingeniously designed and planned Federal chairs we've had an opportunity to work with. The craftsman of the chairs elevated the form to sculpture - it is less an example of a merely rare furnishing, but rather a truly artistic accomplishment of sculpted wood in it's most fragile form. With the level of delicacy in the splat and legs, it is a wonder the chair has remained in the current well preserved condition. For very serious collector of American Federal works, as well as museums and private collections, this is an exceptional selection. Literature & Further Reading: John Townsend: Newport Cabinetmaker, Morrison H. Heckscher; cat. 48, "Side Chair c. 1800", p. 181-3 American Antiques from the Israel Sack Collection, Highland House, Vol. II/III, p. 536, 619, 681 American Furniture: The Federal Period 1788-1825, Charles F. Montgomery, p. 107-8, f. 53 Winterthur Museum, Delaware; Acc. no. 1957.0672.002, Originally attr. to Elbert Anderson Winterthur Museum, Delaware; Acc. no. 1966.0112, labeled by John Townsend Metropolitan Museum, New York; Acc. no. 2012.63, labeled by John Townsend In Praise of America: American Decorative Arts, 1650-1830, Wendy A. Cooper, p. 22, 28 Measurements: [dimensions approximate] 22" wide x 20" deep x 38 3/4" high Condition Report: Chair retains much of the original finish under layers of grime and wax, this being highly oxidized; some abrasions and rubbing of the finish as expected. Reupholstered, this upholstery in mostly good condition with light spots and discolorations. All Sturdy and strong, in rare and very pleasing untouched condition. One replaced corner block; finish somewhat cleaner than other chairs and less alligatored in the shellac; back rail is tulip poplar and is signed "EW". We have 40 detailed pictures of this chair available on our primary website - contact us for a link!

Dimensions:
Height: 38.75 in (98.43 cm)Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
Style:
Federal (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Mahogany
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1790-1799
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1790
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 1310KUJ051stDibs: LU105901801932