A Pair of Maryland or PA Chippendale Side Chairs, c.1785

a pair of late Chippendale mahogany side chairs; a combination of the accentuated trapezoidal shape of the back, the wide “English” style over-upholstered serpentine seat, poplar and oak secondary woods, a lack of through-tenons, “pointed” ears, and straight molded legs with chamfering on the inside corners, all lead to a Maryland attribution; similarly, the over-upholstered seat would seem out of place on an otherwise austere, modestly carved Philadelphia chair, while this profuse use of material would be in keeping with the high style Maryland form these represent; both are labeled on inside of back rail: J&M Justice, 1800; repair to one rear leg and one side rail replaced with appropriate oak secondary; the rear rails are mahogany-veneered tulip poplar; a nearly identical chair, but with through-tenons, an almost rectangular back, and attributed to Philadelphia, can be seen in Montgomery’s American Furniture, The Federal Period, page 136, fig.82; dimensions: 38” tall @ crest rail x 22” wide @ front rail

$10,000