A PAIR OF CHIPPENDALE MAHOGANY SHELL-CARVED SIDE CHAIRS

PENNSYLVANIA, 1760-1780

Details

A PAIR OF CHIPPENDALE MAHOGANY SHELL-CARVED SIDE CHAIRS
Pennsylvania, 1760-1780
Each with a serpentine crestrail centering a carved shell continuing to outscrolling ears with volutes above an interlaced strapwork splat flanked by fluted stiles over a trapezoidal molded seat frame fitted with an upholstered slip seat and centered by a carved shell, on flower-and-acanthus-carved cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet
39in. high (2)

Provenance

Mrs. Benjamin West
Sold in these Rooms, April 11, 1981, lot 477

Lot Essay

Exceptionally well designed, the bowed crest and interlaced splats on each of these chairs is accented by discretely carved shells and volutes. Nearly identical chairs, possibly from the same set, are in the collection at Yale University and in the collection of Bayou Bend (illustrated in Kane, 300 Years of American Seating Furniture: Chairs and Beds from the Mabel Brady Garvan and Other Collections at Yale University (Boston, 1976), p.133), and in Warren, Bayou Bend: American Furniture, Paintings and Silver from the Bayou Bend Collection (Houston, 1975), p.47, fig.81).