A mahogany Chippendale easy chair that has been attributed to the mysterious Garvan carver will sell on September 24 in New York.
 The chair represents the culmination of the Garvan carver's work |
The Garvan carver was an unidentified Philadephia craftsman, who is today known solely through the remarkable body of work he created from the early 1750s to the mid-1760s. The most accomplished of all the Philadelphian carvers of the day, this chair represents the culmination of his work.
The Garvan chair can be identified as such by characteristic traits in the design, such as the carving on the front legs, which is the Garvan carver's variant of a popular Philadelphia design. This, combined with the mastery with which the chair has been created, led it to be linked with a larger body of his work.
Created during the Garvan carver's mature period, the chair is consigned to auction from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, who is selling it to provide funds for an upcoming acquisition. It is expected to make $600,000-900,000.
Also featuring in the Christie's sale will be a cigar store Indian, which has been attributed to Samuel Robb.
The cigar store Indian was once a regular sight on the streets of America, used as advertisements outside tobacconists in the 19th century. However, a ban on sidewalk obstruction and the great depression led to many of them being destroyed, making this example a great rarity.
A $10,000-15,000 estimate has been set by Christie's, though past auction precedents show that it is likely to exceed this. In May, another Samuel Robb cigar store Indian sold for $35,380, while April saw another example bring $94,400.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a magnificent selection of fine English furniture currently available, including a stunning John Linnell demi-lune commode.
