Rare Queen Anne Carved Walnut Easy Chair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Circa 1755

Joseph Kindig Antiques, York, Pennsylvania;

Helen Janssen Wetzel, Tulpehocken Farm, Spring Township, Pennsylvania;

Sotheby Parke Bernet, Tulpehocken Farm, Spring Township, Pennsylvania, Property from the Collection of the Late Helen Janssen Wetzel: Including Important American Furniture and Related Decorative Arts, vol. 2, September 30-October 1, 1980, sale H-3, lot 2126

The dramatic curvilinear design of this easy chair is accentuated by its double-out-scrolling arms, bowed seat rail, and rear legs with a pronounced rake. It represents an exceedingly rare early Queen Anne style example of its form from Philadelphia. The trifid feet indicate it was likely made prior to 1750.

This easy chair was in the collection of Helen Janssen Wetzel and among the furnishings of Tulpehocken Farm, her family home in Spring Township, Pennsylvania (now the Penn State Berks campus.) She was the daughter of Henry K. Janssen, the co-founder of Wyomissing Industries, in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Smith College with a degree in Botany, Helen was a collector of American, English and Continental furniture and decorative arts that furnished the family homes in Wyomissing and Spring Township. She purchased this chair from Joe Kindig Antiques. In 1980, it was among the furnishing sold after her death sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet's onsite auction at Tulpehocken Farm.

A related early Queen Anne easy chair with shell-carved knees and trifid feet was sold at Christie’s, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Max R. Zaitz, January 22, 2016, lot 165. That chair was formerly in the collection of May and Howard Joynt of Alexandria, Virginia.