An exuberantly carved
armchair, possibly provincial, and certainly from a sophisticated
and skilled craftsman,
the wood probably wild cherry, having a shaped crestrail centering stylized
trees, in a heraldic manner,
on a stippled ground, over a vertically pierced columnar
splat below interlaced strapwork and above an inverted heart,
the
arms with down-turned handholds lightly incised as eagle heads,
the
stiles with diminutive gadrooning to the outside;
the trapezoid slip
seat with a solid rail above gadrooned molding and a scalloped
apron,
the front cabriole legs with foliate carved and stipples
knees and ending in webbed ball and claw feet;
the chamfered rear
legs with a connecting stretcher; pegged construction; of quite
heavy weight
Provenance : David H. Wilson, Teaneck NJ
David H. Wilson
(1949-2011) was one of this country's leading
connoisseurs in 17th and 18th century British
furniture.
He
served as a consultant, appraiser and restorer for
Sotheby’s and Christies,
as well as leading dealers and
collectors in New York, London, and throughout the
United States.
Mr. Wilson was also instrumental in
vetting many major collections for authenticity.
After a long and
valiant battle with cancer Mr. Wilson died in February
2011.
M. Ford Creech
Antiques, whose furniture acquisitions Mr. Wilson has
directed since January 2009,
is offering for sale part of his furniture collection, each piece being
chosen for a very unique and captivating quality -
and
each "exactly right". Mr. Wilson never chose to impress
-
more to delight his own impeccable eye, his sense of
grace, history - and humor.
Arms terminating in
eagle's heads are seen in England from c1725.
A
realistically carved example in mahogany and gilt from Arundel
Castle, West Sussex,
is illustrated in The Dictionary of
British Furniture, Macquoid & Edwards, #79.
A simpler
example without feathered supports is shown in Figure 81, from
Houghton Castle, Norfolk.
This example is provincial, probably
North Country, c1735-40.
Condition : Excellent
39.25” High x 25.5” Wide x 22.5” Deep
SOLD
#6173w
Please Inquire
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