| New York, ca. 1760-1780 An identical pair, quite possibly from the same original set, is at Bayou Bend, Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. See Bayou Bend: American Furniture, Paintings and Silver from the Bayou Bend Collection, Warren, 1975, figure 79. An armchair at Colonial Williamsburg undoubtedly from the same shop is illustrated and discussed in American Chairs: Queen Anne and Chippendale, Kirk, 1972, figure 144. The chairs are masterfully carved having fully developed shell carved ears with dependent leafage, the crest rail carved with a c-scroll ruffled mantle and incised carving above an interlaced splat with floating lozenge typical of New York manufacture. The front corners of the seat rails are carved with large shells, a rarely encountered treatment in American chairs. The cabriole legs are superbly carved with acanthus leaf foliage with shaped knee returns carved in the same manner as the crest rail ornament ending in square ball and claw feet. The chairs are being offered in estate found condition retaining an early finish with minor losses and repairs. Mahogany with rear seat rails of poplar or sweet gum. Meas.: OH 39", OW 23", OD 22"
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