Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
Home  /  Sold Antiques





  PAINT-DECORATED AND GILD-STENCILED SETTEE IN CANARY YELLOW WITH EXCEPTIONAL SURFACE, PENNSYLVANIA OR MARYLAND, 1820-1840
Dimensions (inches): 36.25" tall x 78" long x 18.5" deep
Description:
PAINT-DECORATED AND GILD-STENCILED SETTEE IN CANARY YELLOW WITH EXCEPTIONAL SURFACE, PENNSYLVANIA OR MARYLAND, 1820-1840:

Paint-decorated, plank-seat settee, made in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century, in the half-spindle-back style. The rich, canary yellow paint is allowed great contrast by way of a trio of gilt-stenciled fruit and leaf designs along the crest rail and rectangular panels of complimentary decoration along the horizontal back slats. The latter are mirror-imaged on the lower slats that run between the legs. Perhaps the most curious part of the decoration occurs at the front corners of the seat where hand-painted geometric designs add a strong folk element to the well-proportioned bench. Hand-painted fern branches protrude from the framed geometrics, then are repeated along the front edge of the seat. The curved arms end in rams horn medallions. These are gilded and trimmed with black pinstriping. The bulbous portion of the turnings in the spindles are also gilded all the way around the gallery. The painted surface is exceptional, with great craquelure that adds its own artistic flare.

If the settee was not made in Pennsylvania, it bears very strong Pennsylvania influence. The stenciling is more reminiscent of both New England and Baltimore. The seat is more narrow than the typical Pennsylvania example, but the length is identical to most and the overall feel is that of a Pennsylvania bench. My guess is that the influence of the decoration is Baltimore and that the settee was made somewhere along the Pennsylvania-Maryland line. Whatever the case may be, the overall result is a very colorful and well-executed example of American folk art in rural-made American furniture.

Condition: Excellent. This is a sit-able, useable, sturdy piece of antique furniture.
   
Primary Color: yellow
Earliest Date: 1820
Latest Date: 1840
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
Page Views:... 3577