A Very Fine Queen Anne Carved and Figured Walnut Side Chair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1745

Retain its dark rich historic surface. To our knowledge this chair is the only example from this celebrated set of chairs which retains an original carved knee return. Three knee returns replaced.

Proper left knee returns replaced, proper righ front knee return replaced. It should be noted that this chair is the only chair of the set that survives with any of its original knee returns. Once fitted for a convience chamber pot frame. Seat frame replaced.
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.

The elaborate carving on this handsome side chair relates it to some of the finest examples of Philadelphia seating furniture from the Colonial period. Included in this group is a set of six side chairs and an armchair at the State Department with very similar shell carved crest rails, acanthus carved knees and claw feet made for the Loockerman family of Dover, Delaware.¹ This chair exhibits a solid splat, a more conservative alternative to the carved and pierced splats found on the Loockerman chairs, which also feature the additional options of fluted stiles and carving on the crest rail.

A nearly identical side chair perhaps stemming from the same set is in the collection of the United States Department of State Diplomatic Reception Rooms.² It appears illustrated as "Best" in Fine Points of Furniture by Albert Sack.³ A side chair at the Henry Ford Museum also appears to stem from the set.⁴  A similar armchair from a related set is in the collection of Winterthur Museum.⁵ Two side chairs also from that set sold in these rooms, Property of Rear Admiral Edward P. Moore and Barbara Bingham Moore, September 26, 2008, sale 8446, lot 23.

The distinctive shell carving on the crest rail, acanthus carving on the knees and detail work of the claw feet are found on a set of Queen Anne side chairs that date to the late 1740s. Numbers 1 through VI of the set survive. Two sold in these rooms, Important Americana, January 17, 1997, lot 921. Another example is in the collection of Winterthur. Three others were on loan to the Brooklyn Museum as part of the George Horace Lorimer collection; one chair was sold in these rooms, October 1986, lot 243 and is in the collection of the Dietrich Americana Foundation.

¹ See Clement Conger and Alexandra Rollins, Treasures of State, New York, 1991, no. 17, p. 99.
² See ibid, no. 26, p. 107.
³ Sack, 1950, p. 39.
⁴ See Christopher Campbell, American Chippendale Furniture, 1755-1790, Dearborn, 1975, p. 20.
⁵ See Joseph Downs, American Furniture, Queen Anne and Chippendale Periods, New York, 1952, no. 35.