David Barrett, a renowned New York interior designer, was known for blending theatrical elegance with his clients' personal visions. Barrett was a society decorator who counted among his friends the likes of Claudette Colbert, Gypsy Rose Lee, Doris Duke and Barbara Hutton. It is no surprise that his spaces were as theatrical as the people who surrounded him. His designs featured bold colors, rich textures, and a mix of historical styles, creating an environment that felt both opulent and lived-in. These whimsical settees are similarly whimsical in their design, modelled as shells with the stylized dolphin-form arms, and embodying the Northern Italian taste for 'grotto' furniture.

Christie's sold a selection of 'grotto' furniture from the collection of Marion Oates Charles from her Newport Rhode Island residences on 20 August 2020.