A Venetian Silvered Open Armchair
Late 18th Century
with pale green silk upholstery and seat cushion.
Height 35 x width 22 1/2 x depth 19 inches.
Property from the Collection of William L. Bernhard and Catherine Cahill, Southampton, New York

Note:
The first sequence of lots in this auction come from the Southampton, New York home of the collectors Catherine Cahill, who is now deceased, and William L. Bernhard, who continues to live in their Park Avenue home in Manhattan. Lifelong New Yorkers, they passed the summers in Southampton and Washington, Connecticut, and the winters in Palm Beach, where Ms. Cahill decorated their retreat on Major Alley Way with the noted interior designer, Keith Irvine of Irvine and Fleming.

Ms. Cahill was an animal rights activist, and a daughter of John T. Cahill, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and a named partner in the international law firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel. Mr. Bernhard is a philanthropist and a descendant of the Lehman family of investment banking fame. He has served on many Boards of Directors, including the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, Film at Lincoln Center and the Winston Churchill Foundation.

Another sequence of lots from this collection will be offered in our June 18 Palm Beach Treasures online-only auction.

The chair is structurally sound. It was re-silvered in the past. There are chips and cracks to the silver gilt surfaces as well as some discoloration and dust encrustations. The upholstery is in overall good condition with a few minor scattered stains. The cushion is slightly firm. All are consistent with age, material and normal gentle use.