Lot Details
Lot 141
Charles Rohlfs Arts and Crafts Carved Oak Barrel Chair
1902
Burned-in mark and date. Height 31 inches, width 29 3/4 inches, depth 19 1/2 inches.
A comparable chair was sold at Sotheby's, New York, An American Visionary: The Collection of David Whitney, November 16, 2006, lot 104.
Charles Rohlfs (1853-1936) is most well known for the bold forms and expressive carving in his designs. Prior to designing and making furniture, Rohlfs designed cast iron stoves. He trained in drafting and design from Cooper Union, where he learned pattern making. In 1887, he made furniture for his apartment in Brooklyn where he resided with his wife Anna Katharine Green, inspired by the lack of affordable furniture.
Later he set up a workshop in Buffalo, New York. He favored oak and dark stain and embellished his furniture designs on to the wood, changing the original grain but taking design inspiration from the figured grain. The carvings took the idea of the designs Rohlfs saw in the wood: rising smoke, blowing wind, and even Santa Claus. He also employed honest construction with through-tenons for structural integrity. Even the plugs he used to conceal screw heads, such as evidenced in this example, were faceted to give irregularity. The curves on the shaped slats in the front and rear of the chair express the whimsy typical of Rohfls carved decoration.
C A Private Collection of Important Design
Additional Notes & Condition Report
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Doyle New York shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging.
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