Object Details
Maker
Carving attributed to John Pollard (British, 1740-1787; active Philadelphia 1765-1787)
Date
ca. 1760-1780
Geography
United States: Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
Culture
North American
Medium
wood; mahogany
Dimensions
Overall: 38 1/2 in; 97.79 cm
Provenance
Part of a set of at least twelve chairs made for Charles Wharton (1743-1838) of Philadelphia, a wealthy Quaker merchant whose townhouse was on the block of Second Street immediately above John Cadwalader's.[1] As the label attached to a matching chair in the Collection [RR-1982.0074] attests, some of the chairs were purchased by Charles Wharton's grandson, Rodman Wharton, from his relatives on September 16, 1840. These chairs were divided among Rodman Wharton's children. This chair was one of two chairs given to Wharton's son, William Rodman Wharton, on June 22, 1904. W.R. Wharton later gave or sold this chair to Katherine Morris Wright, who in turn gave it to her son, Harrison Morris Wright, in 1974.
Inscriptions
A fragmentary, handwritten label on the chair reads: "9/16/40 Date of purchase of these chairs by [Rodman]/Wharton. They stood in the house of his [grand]/father, Charles Wharton second above [Spruce Street-]/being discarded by his daughters as [too old]/fashioned. [Ro]dman placed them in [the parlor at 336 Spruce/Street] where they remained [til the death/of his] mother--1888 when they [came to/his own family], in their houses 911 Pine & [910 Clinton Street]/Two of them are given to [William Rod]man Wharton on the day [of his marriage/June] 22nd 1904 by his m[other]."
Credit Line
Funds donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bass
Collection
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Accession Number
RR-1982.0074