Herter Brothers Aesthetic Movement Slipper Chair Made for the Vanderbilt Family, New York, c. 18...

Herter Brothers Aesthetic Movement Slipper Chair Made for the Vanderbilt Family, New York, c. 1881-82, carved rosewood, wood inlays, Clarence House upholstery, metal casters, stamped number '452' on proper left rear leg, ht. 31 1/2, seat ht. 16, wd. 22, dp. 28 in. Footnotes: Provenance: Purchased from Margot Johnson in 1997. A copy of the receipt accompanies the lot. Also accompanying the lot are scanned photographs showing portions of the chair prior to reupholstery, including an image of the inside back seat rail where 'Mr. C. Vanderbilt' is written in pencil, as well as a business card, found in the webbing under the seat, for la Chaise de France, the upholsterer Johnson used in 1996. On the invoice, Johnson notes the chair is, 'ex-collection of Countess Szapary, The Breakers, Newport, R.I.' Gladys Moore Vanderbilt, Countess Szechenyi, was the daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and the granddaughter of William H. Vanderbilt and she inherited the Breakers upon the death of her mother. Countess Szechenyi's daughter Sylvia became Countess Szapary upon her marriage to Antal Szapary. Countess Sylvia Szapary had an apartment at the Breakers until her death in 1998. Literature: For two chairs and an ottoman from the same suite of furniture Herter Brothers made for one of the bedrooms of the William H. Vanderbilt residence, 640 Fifth Avenue, New York, see Katherine S. Howe et al, 'Herter Brothers Furniture and Interiors for a Gilded Age,' New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1994, p. 209-11. These three pieces are numbered 453-455 and were sold at Weschler's Auction House, Washington, D.C. in February 1975 as the property of Countess Szechenyi. A chaise lounge and armchair with similar designs and numbered 450 and 451 are also documented. The marks on the casters of the present chair are worn, but we believe they match the India Rubber Comb Co. caster shown on p. 123 of Howe et al. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Prospective buyers should pay special attention to the 'Notice Regarding Regulated Species Materials and CITES Permits' published in the printed catalog. This information is also available by contacting the salesroom. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing