Comments on: Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival Set

By: Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival Restoration | Rare Victorian

Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival Restoration | Rare Victorian — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:28:29 +0000

[...] few years ago, I purchased a three-piece Pottier & Stymus Egyptian Revival set. There was strong evidence to back up the attribution that I had made – the set was [...]

By: Woodwright

Woodwright — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:02:18 +0000

For the link to the (2) tables – don’t click the link @ the top of the page for the “full size image” – it will only bring up a small thumbnail. Scroll down the page and clik the picture to enlarge. The Image from the Met will enlarge twice if you again click the enlargement.

By: Woodwright

Woodwright — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:26:50 +0000

Here’s are links to (2) P&S Egyptian Revival center tables that would complement your chairs nicely. The 2 are very similar – but also very noticeably different. Most notably the presence and absence of the mounts, and the top details. Auction table sold 1/18/04 Link: http://doiop.com/snob82 Met. Museum Table Link: http://doiop.com/4zjg55 Here also is a page from antiqiarian traders with some interesting info about Pottier and Stymus Link: http://doiop.com/7d326s woodwright

By: misslilybart

misslilybart — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:23:34 +0000

I don’t follow the market, but I think the price difference can be chalked up to a combination of variables: the nature of the sales – general Americana, where “Victorian” is the redheaded stepchild vs. single owner w/ celebrity caché, the immediate attractiveness of the suites, and certainly the “rock star” associations with both the fashion and decorating worlds cannot be discounted. Perhaps Egyptian Revival was just “hotter” in 2004 than it was in 2006? The pre-sale estimates does seem to indicate that the auction house expected the second set to sell for much less than the first… but I’m sure someone else will have a better handle on this than I.

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:58:06 +0000

Someone got a bargain on that one set.

Lest it not be obvious, if anyone spots a stray sofa that matches my set come up for sale somewhere, please do pass it on.

Marc, will do.

By: Marc Andrew

Marc Andrew — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:31:51 +0000

Misslilybart,

I dont see any mention of any defect in the green velvet set though it sold for almost $48,000 less. Considering that they list them as “Identical,” did someone seriously pay 48 grand for provenance/Upholstery taste?

Just wondering if I missed something or if you had any imput. Thanks!

RareVictorian,

If you decide to sell the additional mounts, let us know eh?

-Marc Andrew-

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:04:56 +0000

Received the 2 mounts and the hoof today. The two mounts are also marked P.S. and a model number.

By: misslilybart

misslilybart — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:57:06 +0000

zeke, thanks for the follow up. The Strong Museum deaccessioned a lot of their 19th century furniture collection a few years back. A green-upholstered suite matching the Knopf guide chair was sold at Sotheby’s in October of 2006. There is no mention made in the auction listing of the upholstery – either in terms of it being original or modern – or of the type of wood used (see http://tinyurl.com/5cnqg8). The listing does note that ‘An identical suite from The Collection of Pierre Bergé, Pierre Hotel, New York, sold Sotheby’s New York, November 30, 2004, lot 23.’

The ‘identical’ Pierre Bergé suite (http://preview.tinyurl.com/6ncgcl) is rosewood, with ‘velvet upholstery’ (surely not original, considering the provenance of the suite).

So… either the Knopf guide errs in its description, or Sotheby’s errs in describing the suites as ‘identical’… which may be neither here nor there, but certainly illustrates the necessity to view reference materials with a critical eye.

By: Woodwright

Woodwright — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:45:00 +0000

Those are definately the mounts on the set at the Antique Room – mystery solved. I’m sure you noticed the price for their 2 pc. set – has to make you feel good about your purchase. I like the style of your set much better – it has a lot more character.
The mounts on the Set @ the antique room (and the loose set you have or are getting) don’t look like identical mirror images. The cheek bones are set differently and it makes the mount that shows the right side of her face look like she has a big nose (the left side looks fine). I really noticed the big nose on the closeup @ the antique room, yours is not as noticeable because of the wear and discoration (but it is if you study it) – but I think that’s the way the original patterns were made and all the sets are all cast off them and have the same differences.
When you look at the chairs zeke attached pictures of w/ the solid green velvet – the fabric to me does nothing for the chair – I think it takes away from it & looks pretty boring. For what it’s worth, I don’t like the upholstery on the set @ the Antiques Room either. The sphinx’s look whimsical – and the Moire looks both boring and just plain wrong. The right or wrong fabric can make (or break) a piece of upholstered furniture. Maybe you can figure out how to preview different fabrics on the computer before actually commiting (like was discussed about the Karpen sofa from Flomaton’s auction in an earlier post).
If you can’t find a sofa to match your chairs, you could always have one custom made – use your mounts to reproduce the castings and have one built (all dimensions, proportions and details could be taken off the side chair – then stretched ino a sofa – overall dimensions taken from the post by misslillybart) – it wouldn’t be an antique or made by Pottier & Stymus, but would complete the set (probably for less than an original would cost too).
I zoomed in on the photo of the top right side of the chair where the gimp was pulled back – it’s tough to tell for sure – but it doesn’t look like cherry to me. My best guess from the picture is Walnut or Rosewood. It looks like an open grained wood (cherry is a closed grain) and it doesn’t have the grain pattern of Cherry. I could be wrong – very tough to tell from a picture – I’m sure Rose Valley will be able to tell you. woodwright

By: zeke

zeke — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:42:31 +0000

Hey MissLily,

The only credit is the photo is taken by Chun Y. Lai and the chair is (was?) in the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum in Rochester, NY.
The book was published in 1982