Possibly from the cabinet shop of Samuel Walton, circa 1780, two armchairs and four side chairs, scrolled crest rail and shaped stiles with scratch bead, pierced back splat with lower quatrefoil, molded shoe, molded flush seat rail with rear through mortise and tenon joinery, upholstered slip seat, distinctive shaped arms with carved knuckles and arm supports, applied carved knee frets, square straight legs with outside molded edge and inside chamfer, down-swept rear legs, stretcher base.

Armchair 40.5 x 28.5 x 19 in., arm height 29 in., seat height 18 in.

From the Collection of the late Dr. Margery Williams Adams and Dr. George Carlisle Adams, Charlotte, North Carolina
Margery and Carlisle Adams were lifelong patrons of the arts in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. They met in Paris where they were both Fulbright Scholars, she studying at the Sorbonne, and he teaching Pediatrics to French physicians.

Margery (1921-2022) grew up in Worcester, MA. She graduated from Smith College, held a Masters and a Ph.D. in Art History from Radcliffe College (now Harvard University), and taught Art History at Radcliffe and Queens College in Charlotte. She inherited from her uncle - Frank Smith, a Worcester attorney - an extraordinary art collection of Italian antiques and works by early 20th century contemporary artists, the core of which has been donated to the Worcester Art Museum and Smith College Museum of Art. Her personal interest in collecting focused on New England furniture and 18th century coin silver spoons. She was instrumental in securing the Delhom Ceramics Collection for the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte.

Carlisle Adams (1923-1996) graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School and began collecting early American furniture and paintings during his freshman year of college to furnish a spartan dorm room. His eclectic tastes encompassed French fans and paintings, Italian furniture, and Persian rugs, his vast collection now residing at San Diego State University. He was a lifelong opera enthusiast, and he served on the boards of both the Charlotte Opera and the Charlotte Symphony.

Later upholstery; the two armchairs and two of the side chairs lower legs have been tipped 2.5 inches; a few tight shrinkage cracks to back splats; most of the corner brace blocks are old and appear original; one knuckle with small chip.

$2,000 - 4,000