This sofa form occurs at the end of the Classical period, the work of Samuel Field McIntire, the son of the famous woodcarver Samuel McIntire, woodcarver and architect in Salem. The McIntires span three generations of celebrated woodcarving, and much of their work is on exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
The decorative motif that is the hallmark of this period is the basket of fruit, which in this sofa, is beautifully developed along with the rope molding and leafage carving which abuts the basket. Leaving nothing undone, the arms are similarly developed, above classical saber legs which terminate in a complementary brass spiral foot. Other Salem pieces with the basket of fruit as a central motif in our collection include a sideboard: sw01554, and two games tables: sw02073 and sw00011.
We have handled this form in the past (for a recently sold example, see sw00817).
The
sofa has been reupholstered in a silk and is showroom ready. There are
no breaks or alterations. It retains its dark, rich, historic
surface.
Height: 35 in. Width: 80 in. Depth: 27 in.