Philadelphia

lot 4: stable and sturdy overall, with only slight teeter to a couple chairs, but joints are secure and stable; generally with evidence of moisture exposure, with some occasional white / light surface discoloration consistent with mildew or mold (some chairs more significant than others)-- the wood surfaces have been lightly treated / cleaned; all with scattered areas of old insect damage (some chairs more significant than others), particularly to lower part or interior of legs and feet / underside of some feet; the chairs showing interesting variations in design and construction, all exhibiting nice wear or rubbed finishes consistent with age; chair 1: shorter than the rest, back legs with old replaced / spliced wood segments to bottom, front ball feet possibly old replacements- apparently doweled or attached (one slightly loose), inscribed with date “1752” to crest-rail; chair 2: with some age cracks to spindles and to legs commensurate with age, and old repaired break to back left-facing leg; chair 3: some occasional age cracks, a patch / repair to front right-facing side stretcher; chair 4: with repaired breaks / patches to back-most stretcher along right-facing side and to lower bar on crest-rail (to left-most edge), some scattered age cracks; chair 5: a few old repaired breaks / patches to spindle attachments on crest-rail, back of crest-rail engraved “M" to center, some scattered age cracks, front left-facing with repaired breaks / patches to left-facing leg--to top of stile/leg and to inner/back part of leg above foot; chair 6: with replaced rear stretcher bar, repaired breaks / patches to tops of both front legs, right-facing side of front stretcher bar, and to bottom of left-facing front leg, some scattered age cracks, with one slightly lifting to left-facing and right-facing side stretcher bars; the upholstery to all chairs is modern, with some signs of wear commensurate with use, some oxidation to some brass nail heads