Up for sale is a beautiful antebellum-era Empire sofa that was made in the first half of the 19th century. The bold curves are a testament to the lower Virginia or North Carolina craftsman (possibly Thomas Day?) that made this solid and well-proportioned piece.
The well matched veneers on this sofa are almost certainly walnut, and the hand carved embellishments are the work of a master. The heavy iron bolts that attach the feet of the sofa were probably made by a local blacksmith.
As you can see, the upholstery on this sofa is pretty shot and will need to be recovered. The springs are all in the lower cushion, but about half of the webbing straps that span the length of the sofa are broken, which means that the right half of the sofa isn't really safe to sit on.
I bought this sofa from an estate sale in southern Virginia, and its craftsmanship is entirely consistent with antebellum Dan River Valley furniture makers. Some new upholstery and love could turn this sofa into a showpiece.
All fair offers will be entertained.