Description:

American Rococo Carved and Laminated Rosewood Sofa, c. 1850-1860, attr. to John Henry Belter, New York, "Cornucopia" pattern, pierced serpentine crest, acanthus uprights, serpentine seat rail, cabriole legs, casters, h. 52 1/2 in., w. 88 in., d. 32 in.; accompanied by 1979 Bill of Sale. Provenance: Ada and Elbert Davidson, Ashland, KY; The Service Collection, Estate of Grant A. Oakes, Warren, OH. Note: The sofa offered here is remarkable amongst a group of related examples noted for their sculptural aspect, fine carving and virtuosity conserved by the Museum of the City of New York (acc. 38.53.1); the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond (acc. 54.15.1-2); the Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin (acc. M1987.16); The High Museum of Art, Atlanta (acc. 1981.1000-61); the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (acc. 1999/396) and the Victoria and Albert Museum (acc. W-22.1983). These examples, as well as an important sofa sold New Auction Company, Sept. 12, 2015, as lot 122, share superlative carvings along the crest, arms, seat rail and leg carving. The evolution of Belter’s “cornucopia” pattern, shown here in the present example, is currently rare among public and private collections. The sofa offered here, as well as the lot sold Sept. 12, 2015, incorporate forward-looking Renaissance detail into an exuberant Rococo form. Ref.: Davidson, Gail, et. Al. Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730-2008. New York: Smithsonian, Cooper Hewitt. 2008. Pp. 204-205, fig. 15. Ill.: Dubrow, Richard. American Furniture of the 19th c. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1983, p. 75.

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September 24, 2016 10:00 AM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

Neal Auction Company

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $49,999 $500
$50,000 $999,999 $5,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $10,000
$2,000,000 $2,999,999 $15,000
$3,000,000 + $20,000