Set of Four Federal Mahogany Carved Shield-back Side Chairs

Description:

Set of Four Federal Mahogany Carved Shield-back Side Chairs, Salem, Massachusetts, c. 1790-95, with carving attributed to Samuel McIntire, Salem, Massachusetts, the floral forms carved in low relief along the serpentine shaped crests and stiles and parts of the pierced splats, above the trapezoidal overupholstered seats on square tapering legs joined by square beaded medial, side, and rear stretchers, old refinish, (restoration, de-upholstered),ht. 37-37 1/2, wd. 22 3/4, seat ht. 17 1/2-18 in.

Note: Samuel McIntire (1757-1811),a Salem carver, was the subject of the book Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style, by Dean Lahikainen, Peabody Essex Museum, 2007. The side chair pictured as figure 3-13 is described as having the low relief carving of McIntire. That chair, which belongs to the Honolulu Museum, is identical to the set of four described above.

Provenance: These four chairs probably descended from the seventh governor of Massachusetts, James Sullivan (1744-1808),who died in office after a year of service. Prior to his service as governor, Sullivan was the Massachusetts attorney general from 1790-1807. Two chairs from the same set as the present lot are in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Estimate $15,000-25,000

one chair has a replaced seat frame; one chair with replaced medial stretcher and front legs pieced at the top; one chair with replaced serpentine crest and splat; one chair with two front legs pieced at the top 2 inches; the finish strip of three chairs is off but available; the 4th finish strip is missing.

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