Fine American Rococo Revival Carved Rosewood Eight-Piece Parlor Suite

mid-19th century, New York, possibly from the cabinet shop of Henry Iden, consisting of a settee, h. 41-3/4", w. 68-1/2", an armchair, h. 45", and six side chairs, h. 40-1/4", each with deeply carved floral crests centered by a cabochon, flanked by gadrooning, serpentine seat rails and cabriole legs, now upholstered in tufted ecru brocade.


Provenance: By tradition, part of the original furnishings from Nottoway Plantation, White Castle, Louisiana, descended from the heirs of John Randolph to the current owner.

The suite is in a very good state of preservation, retaining a rich, dark surface that appears to be an original finish. It may have been subsequently cleaned and polished. It exhibits normal minor mars, wear, shrinkage and indications of age and use. Upholstery retains good shape and form. Scattered staining. There are relatively few of the normal chips and flakes to the edges of carved surfaces, the most notable being a chip at the top of the crest on a side chair, and a loss of a rose petal on the armchair crest. There are a handful of other smaller chips. All front legs are tight and securely affixed. One side chair is very loose at the stile/seat rail join rendering it unusable at present. Two side chairs exhibit a very small amount of movement at that joint. They should be serviceable for quite some time. Arms and legs are tight on the armchair. The armchair crest has been re-glued along a lamination line where two boards are joined together. Some replaced casters.