Pennsylvania, circa 1770, the Prentiss-Wilkin family set, each with serpentine crest centering boldly carved cabochon, pierced and fluted splat, shell carved front seat rails, ball and claw feet, each with original numbers matching period slip seats with gold silk damask upholstery, appear to retain their original surfaces, 40-1/2 x 23 x 22 in.

Note: See Israel Sack, Inc. advertisement, The Magazine Antiques, December 1951, pg. 481.

Provenance: Lieutenant Joshua Prentiss (1744-1837), Marblehead, Massachusetts; Capt. Caleb Prentiss (b. 1786) [son], Marblehead and Danvers, Massachusetts; Sarah Prentiss Wilkins (b. 1825) [daughter], Danvers, Massachusetts; Williams P. Wilkins [son], Danvers, Massachusetts; Israel Sack, Boston, Massachusetts; Maurice Rubin, New York; Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., Important American Furniture and Decorations from the Collection of Maurice Rubin, Boston and Brookline, MA, May 3, 1952, lot 178; Irving H. Vogel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, Valuable American Furniture: From the Collections of the Late Irving H. Vogel, Philadelphia PA, March 9, 1957, lot 327; Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm F. Knauer, "Morelton", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sold Sotheby's New York, January 21, 2012, lot 279 for $176,500; Collection of C.L. Prickett

chairs overall in excellent condition with mellow surfaces and retaining traces of early and possibly original surfaces, typical bumps and wear to knees and feet, other minor cracks and surface flaws; additional notes: chair I with patches and repairs to rear stiles at joint with crest, one rear stile with patches and repairs at joints with seat rails, cracks and minor color retouch at backs of shoe, restored quarter round at top back of splat; chair IV with minor cracks and color retouch at top of splat, one seat block replaced, minor repair at joint of crest rail with one rear stile; chair V with breaks and repairs to rear stiles at joint with crest rail, edge cracks and repairs at one rear stile at joint with rear seat frame, restored quarter round at top back of splat; chair VI with minor cracks at rear foot and one front knee, crack at one front leg at joint with seat rail; chair VII with minor crack at one front leg at joint with seat rail; chair IX with crack at one rear stile at joint with seat rails, shrinkage crack or checking to one side of front rail