American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts

Note and Literature

Edward Shippen (1701-1781) was a Philadelphia civic leader and merchant. He served as mayor of Philadelphia and Judge of the Common Pleas. He relocated to Lancaster in 1752, where he was appointed prothonotary, served as a county judge for both provincial and state governments and paymaster for British forces. Shippen was a founder of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, the College of New Jersey (Princeton), and Pennsylvania Hospital.

The Grubb family was involved in Lancaster area iron manufacturing for over 150 years. Peter Grubb Jr. owned part of Cornwall Ironworks and was operator of the Hopewell Forges for over 20 years. He built Mount Hope Furnace to compete with other family members in 1784. Grubb served as a Colonel of the 8th Lancaster Battalion during the Revolutionary War and the family iron works provided essential munitions for the Continental cause.

The tassel-back chair was a fashionable pattern made by a number of Philadelphia shops in the second half of the 18th century. A number of these chairs survive of similar overall form-- but with variations in carved details, construction, overall height, height of splat, condition and surface. The present example is extraordinary for its fine proportions, crisp carving, exceptional condition and historic surface. From a set of at least six chairs, only one other probable set mate is known. Sharing an early surface, carved details, height, delicate legs and the distinctive five-lobed shell on the front seat rail, the chair was sold at Christie's, Property of the Wunsch Americana Foundation, September 23, 2012, lot 15.

See, Lita Solis Cohen, "Living with Antiques: Castlefinn Farm, The Pennsylvania home of Mrs. James Rawle II," The Magazine Antiques, March, 1971, illustration, p. 387.