Let me tell you a story about how the most out of place objects are found in the least likely environments. How did a beast of a sofa find its way to a remote farm in Buffelspoort, Rustenburg District of South Africa? This massive, ornately carved, reportedly uncomfortable sofa, shaped like a gondola with arms of carved walnut supports a pair of winged sphinx figures. Mrs. K of this farm asked me to help identify the sofa. Her husband’s grandfather purchased this farm in the 60s and the sofa resided there at the time. Now it is hers!
Mrs. K. did great sleuthing work on the style. She rightfully found 4th century BCE carved marble thrones, one dedicated to Baccus, one to Ceres. Formerly owned by a Venetian family, they now live in the collection at the Louvre. She also discovered the identically shaped and themed throne of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte with winged guardian sphinxes from Versailles Museum. On the right track she began her research with STYLE.
Sofa of Great Craftsmanship
This beast of a sofa represents one of the most fascinating styles of design. It became popular during two resurgences throughout the 19th and early 20th century in Europe and the US. Mrs. K owns a Egyptianesque or Egyptian Revival work of great craftsmanship. The first iteration of the style came from discoveries made during Napoleon’s “expedition” to Syria and Egypt 1789-1801. Napoleon’s troops made meticulous topographical surveys and documented all aspects of natural history and culture. Famously, they discovered ancient Egypt—the temples and tombs of Luxor, Philae, Dendera, and the Valley of the Kings. Thus, Napoleon’s throne was designed ala Egypt, which became the dominate style of the French Empire (1804-1814).
All elements on Mrs. K’s sofa were represented: carved falcon wings, winged orbs, lotus blossoms, sphinx supports, monopodia griffins, lotus leaf detailing, plinths instead of legs, and plenty of acanthus leaf carvings. All converge in a strong angular design. The style became popular in Regency England in the second quarter of the 19th century, popularized at the Prince of Wales’s Brighton Pavilion. Egyptian Neoclassicism swept through Europe; even Sweden developed a version.
Neo-Grec Revival
The style made a second resurgence in the late 19th century on the discovery of more Classical ruins. Learned people of the US and Europe studied ruins of Troy, Assyria, and Pompei to name a few archeological treasures. A geographical revolution launched renewed interest in classically designed furniture. By the 1870s posh design firms actively worked in Egyptian or Neo-Grec Revival. Premier New York based firm Pottier and Stymus became known for high style furniture in the Neo-Grec and Egyptian Revival Styles. Herter Brothers, another high-end firm designed massive pieces in this style. The 19th Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition displayed furniture similar Mrs. K’s beast of a sofa! Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company in New York City hired the Italian Egyptian Revival designer Michelangelo Guggenheim, who designed prominent Venetian palaces in this style.
I suspect Mrs. K’s sofa is the work of this designer. Guggenheim designed overscale and imposing furniture. His figures, such as his Winged Sphinx, appear almost surreal. Tiffany Studios offered Guggenheim’s work in New York in the 1890s as well as in Europe. The very wealthy of Venice, New York, and Paris hired designers to create an overall impression of Egyptian grandeur.
If I’m right about the craftsmen behind Mrs. K’s sofa she will find a label “Stabilimento Artistico M Guggenheim Venezia.” If Pottier and Stymus created her sofa she will find the same number stamped on each of the parts of the sofa or a ‘PS’ stamp.
She mentioned a worldwide phenomenon
Her kids don’t want this sofa. She asked about the worth of holding onto it or if the market will want it. It’s not in perfect shape, she said, and asked if she should restore it. Even if the makers were either Guggenheim or Pottier and Stymus in the late 19th century, this style of furniture is NOT desired. An entire seven piece bedroom set in this style by Guggenheim achieved $20,000 at auction. A similar table in this design, $3,000, and a chair by Pottier and Stymus achieved $1,800. So, I suggest neither refinishing nor reupholstering, but a nice donation to a museum in South Africa!