Gustav Stickley

Private Family, Maine, circa 1905, acquired directly from the Stickley firm
Thence by descent
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Gustav Stickley, Craftsman House:  A Book for Home-Makers, New York, 1913, pp. 32 and 35 (for the standard Director's model shown in situ in period commissions)
Stephen Gray and Robert Edwards, eds., Collected Works of Gustav Stickley, New York, 1981, p. 120 (for the standard model, no. 631)
From Architecture to Object:  Masterworks of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, New York, 1989, p. 38 (for a period photograph of the Director's table in Gustav Stickley's Syracuse residence)
A. Patricia Bartinique, Gustav Stickley, His Craft:  A Daily Vision and Dream, Parsippany, NJ, 1992,  p. 59 (for the standard model, no. 631)
Douglas Congdon-Martin, ed., The Gustav Stickley Photo Archives, Atglen, PA, 2002, p. 120 (for the standard model, no. 631)
Kevin W. Tucker, Gustav Stickley and the American Arts & Crafts Movement, Seattle, 2010, p. 139 (for the standard model, no. 631)

Overall in excellent original condition. The oak surfaces appear to retain their original finish throughout, displaying exceptional figuring and a deep and rich russet brown coloration. The pristine original condition of the table shows the care of the original owner and the remarkable history of the work being stored for decades. The oak surfaces with some minor surface scratches, abrasions and edge wear consistent with age and very gentle use. The surfaces of the table throughout present with rich figuring to the wood selection. The leg posts and rails with some minor surface scratches and edge wear and a few very minor seam separations. An outstanding example exemplifying the purity of form and geometry seen in Stickley’s quintessential early works. -----
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.

These two lots represent unique commissioned works acquired directly from the firm of Gustav Stickley by a Boston-based family for their summer cottage in the Lakes Region of Main.  Upon the passing of the original owners in the midcentury, the works descended in the family and were place in storage for decades. As a result, they remained virtually untouched and their impeccable original condition is a testament to their uncharacteristic history.

This table is an iconic example of Gustav Stickely’s early aesthetic design sensibility, an embodiment of what he called “honest furniture” with unadorned wooden surfaces and unmasked construction elements.  Stickley began producing related models of this table during the early part of the 1900s and even included an example of the model in his own residence in Syracuse, New York.  The benches were likely a distinct request by the original owner as there is no appearance in period catalogues of related models.  The dramatic scale and bold proportions evoke a sense of strength in the pieces and certainly have a potent effect on the viewer.  This exceptional suite draws clear inspiration from the integrity of medieval precedents in Stickley furniture production, yet ultimately achieves a uniquely modern aesthetic through the essential form and geometric congruency.