Chippendale style mahogany "Rising Sun" armchair, also known as "George Washington's Chair", after the original by John Folwell, made in 1779 for Independence Hall located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Crest with carved, parcel-gilt rising sun ornamentation over a pierced splat with a Gothic arch and trefoil carving, curved arms with molded knuckles raised on leaf-carved supports, and a straight seat, all resting on Gothic tracery carved straight legs. 57 1/2" H x 26 1/2" W x 18 1/2" D. Late 19th century. Note: Folwell's chair came to be called the "Rising Sun" chair after James Madison recorded a comment made by Benjamin Franklin that he overheard, "Whilst the last members were signing it [the Constitution] Doct FRANKLIN looking towards the President's Chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him, that Painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun. I have said he, often and often in the course of the Session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun" (https://www.ushistory.org/more/sun.htm).

PROVENANCE: Private Cincinnati, Ohio estate.

CONDITION: Overall good condition with general expected use wear and abrasions. Wear and losses to upholstery, especially to front torn seat corner.