Images(2)

Side chair, splat-back

Dateca. 1769

Attributed to Benjamin Randolph (1721 - 1791)

Attributed to John Pollard (1740 - 1787)

Attributed to Hercules Courtenay

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumMahogany, white cedar

DimensionsOH: 37 1/16"; W (seat): 21 3/4"; D (seat): 18"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1974-680

DescriptionAppearance: serpentine crest rail with four C-scrolls outlining the outer top, a central tattered-shell carving and rounded acanthus carved ears that flow into acanthus carved stiles; outer bottom of crest rail framed by two continuous C-scrolls, one on each side; pierced, strap work splat with carved acanthus leaf, cabochon, and floral decoration; carved and molded, concave shoe; stiles rounded on back above the seat rail; over-the-rail upholstered saddle seat; serpentine front and side seat rails with molded skirts and decorative carving; front cabriole legs with highly carved knees and knee blocks including acanthus leaves, cabochon and floral decorations ending in hairy paw feet; rear legs rounded below seat rail rake back slightly
Label TextOne of a set of at least twelve chairs with a matching pair of card tables made for John and Elizabeth Lloyd Cadwalader of Philadelphia around 1770, this chair represents the pinnacle of Philadelphia rococo carving. Probably produced in the shop of cabinet- and chairmaker Benjamin Randolph and possibly carved by Hercules Courtenay and John Pollard, the design loosely follows Chippendale's illustrations for "Ribband Back Chairs" in "The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director," a copy of which Randolph owned. Two London-trained carvers worked as journeymen in his shop, and it is likely that one did the majority of the carving on this chair relying on his knowledge of contemporary English examples.

Most high-style eighteenth-century chairs were produced with silk, wool, or leather fixed upholstery nailed to the frame. Linen slipcovers with checked or striped patterns were often used to protect finer textiles. The 1770 bill from Plunket Fleeson, a Philadelphia upholsterer, indicates that he furnished Cadwalader's chairs solely with canvas, a coarse material. Cadwalader purchased three sets of slipcovers, two of silk damask, one yellow and one blue, which would probably have fitted tightly over the canvas and looked like fixed upholstery, and one possibly looser set of Saxon blue French check with white fringe. The present upholstery shows how the blue silk damask slipcover would have looked.

The seat frame has two small holes at each front corner, under the fabric, through which the ties of a slipcover would have been passed and secured behind the knees to hold the cover firmly in place.

ProvenanceOriginally owned by John and Elizabeth Lloyd Cadwalader, Philadelphia, PA.

Israel Sack; January 1974 Sotheby Parke Bernet New York sale; Major R. G. Fanshawe, Gloucestershire, Ireland; Mrs. Nancy Hone Cornell, St. Catherine's Park, Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland; probably Anthony Nugent, Earl of Westmeath, Pallas, Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland.

Exhibition(s)