I spent the weekend in antique mode (what else is new?) with Saturday spent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Sunday spent perusing the antique stores of Adamstown, PA. The difference is that I did it all with some very good friends and had a blast. It's always fun to share an interest with others who also can appreciate it (albeit not as rabidly as I - yet).
I will be posting some of the images I captured at the museum from a camera that I borrowed. I never realized that they'd let you photograph their items, but now I know to bring my own camera along. One of the photos is above and is a sofa that the museum attributes to Thomas Brooks.
I question the attribution and how it was made. The sign does not go as far as to detail attribution sources (nor do I necessarily expect it to), so it is hard to guess their thinking. It resembles sofas by John Jelliff more so than Brooks items and you can see a confirmed Brooks chair
here. Note the break in the skirt and the two rosettes as well as the lack of figural arms. Granted, he could have had multiple styles that he produced, but I think there is more in common with documented Jelliff pieces, such as those at the Newark Museum than this Brooks chair. My guess is that the profile of the crest could be a hint as to why the Brooks attribution is there.
5 comments