An Important American Rococo Walnut Armchair, c. 1855, Philadelphia, bearing discovered stamp on top inside of proper right leg "C. W. and Co.", probably for Charles H. White, the padded crest above an exuberantly carved back exhibiting entwined dolphins amongst scrolling foliage; their tails continuing to robust animal mask terminals, curved arm supports, cabriole legs headed by cabochons, ending in paw feet, height 32 in., width 25 in., depth 24 in. Henkels, whose large firm was at 172 Chestnut Street, blocks away from White's workshop at 250 Chestnut, was credited for the Packer library chair before the discovery of the label on this chair came to light. A very similar chair installed in the library of the c. 1860 Asa Packer Mansion in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is illustrated in Kenneth Ames The Magazine Antiques, "George Henkels, Philadelphia Cabinet Maker" Oct. 1973, p. 645, fig. 9 Few objects made and sold by Charles White (Philadelphia, 1796-1876) are documented. A carved walnut armchair conserved by the Carnegie Museum bearing a stenciled label "Chas. H. White, No. 250 Chestnut St. Phila_", differing slightly from that on this lot, is illustrated in Busch, et. al. Rococo, the Continuing Curve, p. 200, fig. 9. Note: The design for this chair is well-known, though this chair apparently is the first example with a maker's mark. A drawing of a very similar chair appears as the frontispiece in Edward Strahan's Mr. Vanderbilt's House and Collection. Boston: George Barrie. A photograph of William Vanderbilt sitting in the chair is illustrated in Howe, et. al. Herter Bros., Furniture and Interiors for a Gilded Age, p. 201.