THE PRENTISS- WILKINS FAMILY IMPORTANT SET OF SIX CHIPPENDALE CARVED MAHOGANY SIDE CHAIRS, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1770

Chairs appear to retain their original surface.  Each with their original accompanying slip seat; chairs marked I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIIII.

Lieutenant Joshua Prentiss (1744-1837), Marblehead, MA;
Capt. Caleb Prentiss (b.1786) [son], Marblehead and Danvers, MA;
Sarah Prentiss Wilkins (b.1825) [daughter], Danvers, MA;
Williams P. Wilkins, Danvers, MA [son];
Israel Sack, Inc., Boston, MA;
Maurice Rubin, New York;
Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Important American Furniture and Decorations from the Collection of Maurice Rubin, Boston and Brookline, MA, May 3, 1952, lot 178;
Irving H. Vogel, Philadelphia, PA;
Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, Valuable American Furniture: From the Collections of the Late Irving H. Vogel, Philadelphia, PA, March 9, 1957, lot 327;

Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm F. Knauer, "Morelton", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Israel Sack Inc., advertisement, Magazine Antiques, December 1951, 481.

Secondary wood is poplar; chairs retain a dark, historic surface, possibly original. Chair I: proper right stile cracked midway along its length (repaired piece of wood at top of proper right stile with department); both stiles with patches to their top at junction of crest rail; glue block at center of back of crest rail lacking; shoe patched at back at junction of splat; proper right scroll of splat cracked; Chair IV: The proper right section of crest rail cracked and re-glued at location of stile; both scrolls on splat cracked. Chair V: Proper right scroll on splat cracked; proper right stile cracked and re-glued at junction of rear seat rail; crest rail glue block for splat propbably replaced; finish on chair slightly lighter that on other chairs, due to its sitting in a window at its past residence. Chair VI: Overall condition commensurate with age; no significant cracks, losses or repairs. Chair VII: Overall condition commensurate with age; no significant cracks, losses or repairs. Chair VIIII: Overall condition commensurate with age; no significant cracks, losses or repairs.
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 set of six ball-and-claw foot chairs is remarkable for having survived together for over 250 years in untouched condition.  The Quaker preference for a design relying upon line more than surface ornament to achieve a harmonious visual effect is reflected in the chairs' elegant design.  The crispness of the carving, particularly of the rocaille in the crest rail and the ball-and-claw feet, is readily seen as the chairs have their apparent original finish.  Remarkably, the chairs also retain all of their original slip seats with corresponding Roman numerals.

The chairs were originally owned by Joshua Prentiss (1744-1837) of Marblehead, Massachusetts.  The Prentiss House at 37 Mugford Street still stands.  It was built by Peter Jayne, who for many years was a noted school-master in the town.  During the years immediately preceding the Revolution, the "Committee of Safety" held its meetings in a hall in the upstairs of the home.  The "Tuesday Evening Club," of which General Glover, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, Dr. Story, Colonel Lee and other well-known citizens were members as well as the Philanthropic Lodge of Freemasons held their meetings in the Prentiss home.¹  After the death of Mr. Jayne, his widow Polly married Joshua Prentiss, Esq. in 1762, who for many years held the office of Town Clerk in Marblehead.  Joshua Prentiss was also a lieutenant in Cambridge Captain John Merritt's Co. from Marblehead. In later years the house became the home of Gen. Samuel Avery, a Brigadier-General of the Massachusetts Militia.² Joshua's son and heir Caleb Prentiss, captain of an artillery company in the War of 1812, moved to Danvers in 1840.

After its purchase by Israel Sack, likely in the 1920s, the set entered the famous collection of the late Maurice Rubin of New York.  After the sale of his collection they were owned by another famous collector of the late Irving H. Vogel of Philadelphia.  Since that time this set has resided in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm F. Knauer of Washington, DC.  Mrs. Virginia H. Knauer was director of the Office of Consumer Affairs under Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford and Ronald W. Reagan to lobby for consumer-protection reforms like clear product labeling and unit pricing and resided in Washington, DC until her death.

¹ This lodge was instituted in the year 1760, though a charter was not obtained until the year 1778. It is now the oldest lodge in the country.
² This information was excerpted from Samuel Roads, Jr., A guide to Marblehead ..., 2 ed., (Marblehead, MA: M.H. Graves, Stationer, 1887).