Charles Rohlfs

Private Collection, Ohio, circa 1901
Thence by descent

Will M. Clemens, "A New Art and a New Artist," The Puritan, August 1900, p. 586
Joseph Cunningham, The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs, New Haven, CT, 2008, pp. 89-90 (for another coal hod in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum and a period photograph of the model in the collection of The Winterthur Library)

Overall in very good original condition. This rare coal hod, along with the Rohlfs ladder back chair also offered in this auction (lot 64), originated together from the period and have descended in the family of the original owner until recently. The oak surfaces throughout appear to retain their original rich dark finish, which have been sensitively waxed. The oak surfaces with some occasional minor surface scratches, abrasions, and edge wear with some small associated losses, most prevalent to the feet and base, consistent with age and gentle use. The coal hod with minor surface dirt to the recessed portion of the design. The patinated copper hardware on the top of the coal hod retains its original patina, with light rubbing, surface soiling and minor discolorations. The interior of the burled storage element is turned with delicate concentric circles. The interior with scattered surface soiling and some very minor abrasion marks and dings. The coal hod is quite impressive in person, displaying great visual interest, exuberant form, crisp carving, and very distinctive metalwork. An outstanding example of this very rare work by Rohlfs. -----
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 coal hod, or coal box, is a superb example of woodworking in oak and a testament to Charles Rohlfs’ expert ability in developing purely utilitarian objects into virtuosic aesthetic forms.  By incorporating art into everyday life, Rohlfs supported a philosophy espoused by the Arts and Crafts reformers in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.  A few variants of this form are presently known, each distinguished by the complexity of their carved decoration and iron hinges, the present example representing the most elaborate of these designs.  A second example of this same variant is in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  The lavishly and artistically carved decoration on the lid heightens the beauty of the hinges without trying to disguise or hide them—a design philosophy that is referenced in the Gothic Revival furniture pieces of A.W.N. Pugin, with an emphasis on revealing—and revering—construction methods in furniture and woodworking.  As Joseph Cunningham’s scholarship has noted, the motif of the carved decoration is similar to Anna Katharine Green’s illuminated typography in Songs from the Poets, with a medieval sensibility. The nobility of the oak surface is further heightened through the original finish as well as the exceedingly large piece of burled wood that has been turned and comprises the base of the coal hod. The bowl-shaped vessel for the coal is supported by an expertly carved framework construction that is evocative of a ceremonial form—a true embodiment of the artistic life embedded within a utilitarian object.