Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Ebenezer Benton
(Anglo-American, 1663 - 1758)
Furniture MakerMade by a member of the
Parmele Family
(American, 1740 - 1810)
Date1740-1770
MediumMaple, ash, poplar
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 42 3/4 x 18 11/16 x 14 5/16in. (108.6 x 47.5 x 36.4cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Barbara Lane
Object number2006.30.2
DescriptionMaple side chair in the Queen Anne, or late baroque, style, with a heart and crown style crest rail, a splat-back, turned stiles, legs, and stretchers, and a woven rope seat. The back of the chair is formed by a pierced crest rail with a shaped upper edge at the top between two turned stiles. Each stile has an urn-shaped finial at the top. The crest rail has a tall section with a small raised half circle in the center over a pierced heart; to each side of this is a larger half-circle, a short fillet, or horizontal, and a downward sweep out to the stile. Below the crest rail is a vase-shaped splat that attaches at the bottom to the stay rail. Above the seat, each stile is turned with cylinder, ring, and baluster forms. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg over a compressed ball foot. Each front leg is turned with three cylindrical sections, each separated by a ring turning, over a compressed ball foot (replaced). Each front leg has a rounded top that extends slightly higher than the woven rope seat (replaced), which is trapezoidal in shape. The two front stretchers that connect the front legs of the chair are turned with ovoid, ring, and baluster forms. Each side of the chair has two plain turned stretchers. The back of the chair has one plain turned stretcher. The chair frame is painted black.
Condition: Portions of the back of the chair have been disassembled. The stay rail and front feet are replaced. The chair frame has later black paint applied over red paint; the red paint is applied over an earlier green paint. The seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail has a rectangular tenon at each end that extends into the cylinder near the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail is tenoned into each stile. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front or back legs.
NotesOwner Note: The probate records at the Connecticut State Library include an estate inventory for Ebenezer Benton (1673-1758), whom the family history identifies as the earliest known owner of table 2006.30.1 and chair 2006.30.2. The inventory includes "a Great Table" at two shillings and "a Table with Drawer" at 2s 3d; also "a Black Chair" at two s and "Eleven Chairs" at 9d each. (Kugelman 2006)Condition: Portions of the back of the chair have been disassembled. The stay rail and front feet are replaced. The chair frame has later black paint applied over red paint; the red paint is applied over an earlier green paint. The seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail has a rectangular tenon at each end that extends into the cylinder near the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail is tenoned into each stile. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front or back legs.
Status
Not on view
