Greene & Greene

Greene & Greene and the American Arts & Crafts Movement, permanent exhibition, The Virginia Steele Scott Gallery of American Art, The Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA, 1994-2008

Leslie Greene Bowman, American Arts & Crafts: Virtue in Design, Los Angeles, 1990, p. 49 (for the example in the collection of LACMA)
Kenneth R. Trapp, The Arts and Crafts Movement in California:  Living the Good Life, New York, 1993, p. 167 (for the example in the collection of LACMA)
Randell L. Makinson and Thomas A. Heinz, Greene & Greene:  The Blacker House, Salt Lake City, 2000, pp. 72-73 (for the design drawing of the current model and a period photograph showing this model in situ in the Blacker entry hall)

Overall in very good condition. The teak wood surfaces appear to retain their original finish, with some occasional light surface scratches and abrasion marks consistent with age and gentle use (slightly more prevalent along the lower regions of the legs, feet and central stretcher). As expected, the top surfaces of the arms show gentle rubbing from repeated contact over the years. There is an old small edge loss approximately ½ x ¼ inch to the top front edge of the proper right stile located at the midsection of the chair back. The side edges of the teak rails flanking the central upholstered seat back with a few scattered edge abrasions and a few small old losses. The seat back and slip seat were originally upholstered in leather, and have been replaced with modern leatherette upholstery. The black rawhide piping flanking the upholstered back is very old and possibly original, showing wear, occasional cracks and minor losses consistent with age. With a few very subtle and minor water spots along the seat rails and arms, and what appears to be a few scattered traces of tiny paint drips. A superb example of this iconic and rare chair design, embodying all of the signature design attributes which distinguish the mature work of Greene & Greene.
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.

This exquisite high-backed armchair embodies the key design principles of symmetrical linearity, purity of form, harmonious proportions, and masterful joinery that architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene developed in their mature high style.  The narrow leather back splat accentuates the elegant elongated proportions of the tapering back.  The chair is fully articulated with ebony pegs and splines, most notably where the rear leg posts seamlessly meet the top rails.  While these ebony elements provide a practical means of concealing internal screws, they are exquisitely incorporated as a decorative focal point.  The softly rounded contours of the sculpted front legs and the exaggerated yet graceful sweep of the arms further exhibit the refinement and keen attention devoted to nearly every element of the design.  The chair's front feet are subtly articulated with a carved key or volute.  Consistent with the Greene's practice of developing unique design programs to distinguish specific rooms within a residence, this Asian-inspired motif graces the feet of the other entry hall furniture, and can also be seen on a much larger scale on the carved terminals of the entry's overhead beams.

This rare armchair is one of only three examples executed for the Blacker commission. The second example is in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the third is in a private collection (presently included in the traveling exhibition A New and Native Beauty:  The Art and Craft of Greene & Greene).  The Blacker entry hall and dining room furniture is documented in a design rendering by the architects dated July 31, 1908.  The design for this armchair is shown in the lower left corner of this drawing, and hand-annotations indicate that three examples were executed, numbered 25, 26 and 27.  Period photographs taken of the Blacker entry hall around 1910 also document the form in situ around the room's perimeter.  As was the fate of most of the Blacker furniture, this chair is believed to have been removed from the residence in the late 1940s following Nellie Blacker's death in 1946 and the subsequent sale of the house.  It was re-discovered in 1994, and was shortly thereafter loaned to the Huntington, where it remained on public exhibition until this year.