Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The chair with rush slip seat features a distinctive carved and pierced crest rail [scrolled terminals centering pierced and carved leaf center] above a vase shape-splat set within molded keeper-rail flanked by molded posts continuing to square raking legs. The mortise and tenon joined trapezoidal seat frame containing woven rush seat is within a shaped skirt [the front rail incised] joining block-and-vase-turned front legs terminating on carved and scrolled Spanish feet. The legs are joined by turned ball-and-ring front stretcher, rear stretcher, and rectangular side stretchers.
The apron reverse bears a paper loan label from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston: “M.F.A. 426 Lent by Hermann F. Clarke”
This chair is virtually identical to a set of four chairs that descended from John Gaines III through the Brewster family; sold at auction in 1998.*
This chair was one of a pair sold by Israel Sack, Inc. and was illustrated in several publications while in the collection of noted collectors Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel Taradash.
* Trent, Gronning, and Anderson, The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating in Northeastern New England; page 141. “Origins of the Gaines Attributions”.
** Trent, Gronning, and Anderson, The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating in Northeastern New England; page 140, figure 1. The image depicts retaining strips which are restored.
Item Date: Circa 1735-1740
Material: Maple, ash front stretcher
Item Condition: Very good, commensurate with age and use. Seat retaining strips [a flat molding] have been missing for a very long time. See, Trent, Gronning, and Anderson, The Gaines Attributions and Baroque Seating in Northeastern New England; page 140, figure 1.**
Provenance: Israel Sack, Inc. New York, New YorkMr. and Mrs. Mitchel TaradashIsrael Sack, Inc. New York, New YorkPrivate Collection to Antique Associates
Literature: The Decorative Arts of New Hampshire: 1725-1825, Currier Gallery of Art, 1964; plate 7.Living with Antiques, E.P. Dutton & Co, 1963, p. 93.The Magazine Antiques, January 1953, p. 46.Four Centuries of Furniture in Portsmouth with the New Hampshire Furniture Masters, by Gerald W.R. Ward, Hollis Brodrick and Lainey McCartney, p. 40
Price: $19,500
SKU 935-105
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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