Important Queen Anne Carved Walnut Compass-Seat Side Chair, Philadelphia, circa 1755

sea trail and slip seat marked I, proper left front foot partially replaced.

Margaret F. Hoyt, Clinton, New Jersey;
Private Collection;
Sotheby's, New York, Fine American Furniture, Folk Art, Folk Paintings and Silver, June 28, 1990, sale 6051, lot 568.

Proper left front leg broken out and repaired behind knee. Central lower small carved element of shell on seat rail 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.

An icon of American craftsmanship, this walnut side chair represents the best of Queen Anne chairmaking from Philadelphia. The fine articulation of the high relief carving -- comprised of shells and bold double volutes on the crest and seat rails, acanthus knees, and fully developed claw and ball feet-- is exceptional. The added embellishments of an egg-and-dart carved shoe, blocked front seat rail, and choice highly figured wood rank this chair among the richest examples of its form.

With a seat rail and slip seat numbered I, this side chair was made as part of a larger set of chairs. Two other chairs from this set are at Winterthur; one of these is numbered V.¹ Chair number VI of the set was formerly in the Reifsnyder Collection and purchased from the Reifsnyder sale by Dr. William Serri.² That chair was later sold at Christie’s, Important American Furniture, Silver and Folk Art, January 19, 2002, sale 1003, lot 357.

A walnut side chair numbered XVII formerly in the Reifsnyder Collection and later in the Robb Collection is virtually identical, differing only in the articulation of the shell on the crest rail.³ It stems from a set that was likely made in the same shop. Two walnut side chairs with shells by a different hand are from a closely related set and perhaps made in the same shop. They were sold in these rooms, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords, October 28-9, 2004, sale 8016, lots 218 and 219. Three cherrywood side chairs from a third related set were in the Reifsnyder collection and illustrated as “best” in Fine Points of Furniture by Albert Sack.⁴ Another related set also with a different crest shell and rounded stiles is represented by a walnut side chair at Colonial Williamsburg.⁵

¹ See Joseph Downs, American Furniture (New York, 1952), no. 116.
² Colonial Furniture: The Superb Collection of the Late Howard Reifsnyder, (New York: American Art Association), April 24-27, 1929, lot 656.
³ See Israel Sack Inc., American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, Vol. V, P4161, pp. 1220-21.
⁴ See Albert Sack, Fine Points of Furniture (New York, 1950), p. 26.
⁵ See John Kirk, American Chairs: Queen Anne and Chippendale (New York, 1972), no. 56, p. 73.