Need this amazing sofa identified and appraised

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Posted by DougJ92270
9 years ago
AI Appraisal
💬 2 Comments 🗣️ Discuss with Community
Description

We purchased this bare sofa frame from an antique store in St Paul, Minnesota, in the early 1990's.  There was no information given to us from the dealer, but we loved the frame so we bought it.  We had it refinished and upholstered in the red silk it's wearing in the pictures.  It's time to reupholster it and decide if we should keep it or sell it.  Please help me discover the history, if any, behind it.  I have been looking for at least 20 years and can't find another one like it. 
Category Furniture
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Submitted by Lovejoy

It's in the Classical Revival/Empire Style, the originals date 1815-30, the style was revived again in the 1890's. It's difficult to tell from images if this is an original or one of the late 19th century Reproductions.  Personally I think it is one of the better copies from the 1890's, but then again it would need a physical appraisal of the frame to determine its vintage.

Submitted by DougJ92270

Thank you, Lovejoy for the help.  I will take pics of the "undercarriage" and see if that helps you.  I would not be offended if it is a reproduction from the 1890's at all.  The stretchers that go from front to back seem to be hand-hewn.  The springs, etc., were all done by my upholsterer.  I'm having to strip the piece down to the wood and re-square the whole sofa and glue the joints since the front rail has started to come loose from the stretchers.  They were originally connected by glue and dowel, but I added a screw in a vain attempt to stop the loosening of the rail.  We were told it was from the 1800's by the dealer when we bought it.  Back then, it didn't matter because we thought it was beautiful with the barrel curve at the bottom of the arms and the entire detail of the wood.  I still have not seen a single sofa that has that same arm.
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