A suite of Danish, neoclassical, giltwood chairs from the third quarter of the 18th century, attributed to architect C.F. Harsdorff. The suite comprises of a pair of armchairs and a pair of side chairs, each with an oval upholstered backrest carved with ribbon tied laurel leaves, the padded armrests raised on molded leaf carved supports, the serpentine fronted seats carved to match the backrest, all raised on circular fluted legs. The suite dates to circa 1770-1775.
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff (1735-1799) was a Danish architect from Copenhagen who was prominent in the mid to late 18th century. He was considered to be the 'leading' Danish architect of the late 18th century and designed a number of important neoclassical style buildings especially in the Copenhagen district and surrounds. He undertook studies in France and took inspiration from antiquity found on a trip to Rome in 1762.
This suite of chairs was part of the collection of Arne Schlesch which was auctioned with Sotheby's on Wednesday April 5, 2000. They feature on page 425 and 426 of the auction catalogue and in the year 2000 for this particular auction had an estimate of $10,000-$15,000 US Dollars. Arne Schlesch was one of the finest dealers of antique Scandinavian furniture and decorator pieces and was based in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Upon his retirement he held an auction with Sotheby's New York and sold his vast collection which spanned his five story New York premises. These chairs retain their Sotheby's stickers to the underside and have later been reupholstered in a sympathetic silk fabric.
Dimensions of armchairs: 59cm W x 53cm D x 88cm H (total) x 40cm H (seat)
Dimensions of side chairs: 49cm W x 45cm D x 93cm H (total) x 46cm H (seat)
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