A Very Fine Pair of Chippendale Carved and Figured Mahogany Side Chairs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania circa 1770

Chairs marked I and VIII. Slip seat frames marked II and VII.

Chair I: carving abraded and worn on legs; a chip to fluting of proper left style towards junction of seat rails. Chair VIII: has been refinished; wear and chips to fluting at the bottom of styles; chip to cresting taped to seat rail. Both appear to retain their original yellow pine slip seats.
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.

Distinctive for their exceptional Rococo carving and integrated design, these side chairs are superior examples of the Philadelphia interlaced strap-work splat type, a popular early chair pattern characterized by two scrolls that curve down from the crest and meet two scrolls that curve up from the base with double crossed straps in the center. Here the splat is uncarved, except for a pair of volutes. The serpentine crest rail is relieved with a pair of volutes, a stylized boldly-carved rocaille motif, and heavily scrolled ears.  The stiles are triple reeded. The seat rails are undercut and the front rail displays a large applied crisply-carved symmetrical shell while the rails above the knees are carved with a ruffle emanating from C scrolls.  The knees and returns are carved with acanthus leaves and paired flowerheads.  The front cabriole legs terminate in claw-and-ball feet with finely-articulated talons. The stump rear legs are oval in cross section and curve backward.

The talented artisan who executed the distinctive carving on the crest rail, seat rails and knees of these chairs articulated identical carving on a furniture made for the Mifflin family of Philadelphia. A side chair that descended in the Morris-Hacker branches of the Mifflin family is of the same pattern, although with a solid splat, and exhibits the exact same carving on its crest rail, stiles, seat rails, knees and claw feet. A high chest of drawers made as part of the same set displays the same knee carving and pendant shell centered in its skirt. The dressing table made en suite also features knee and skirt pendant carving of this unique type. The three pieces are illustrated in William M. Hornor, Blue Book Philadelphia Furniture, Alexandria, VA, 1988 as pls. 132, 130 and 133, respectively, with an attribution to Thomas Affleck.

Two similar though less exuberant sets of chairs of this particular pattern are represented by a side chair illustrated as "best" in Fine Points of Furniture by Albert Sack, p. 35 and a side chair illustrated in Hornor, pl 331 as the property of the Harrison family and from the Yarnall homestead on School House Lane in Germantown.