Armchairs
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Stanley family
(American)
Furniture MakerPossibly made by
Spencer Shops
(American)
Date1735-1750
MediumMaple, ash, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth of .1): 55 1/2 x 26 1/4 x 26 3/8in. (141 x 66.7 x 67cm)
Primary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth of .2): 55 1/2 x 26 1/4 x 26in. (141 x 66.7 x 66cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1950.250.2
DescriptionOne of a pair of maple armchairs in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with an arched crest rail, a banister back, and turned front legs and front and side stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of each chair is formed by a solid crest rail with an arched top edge and flat lower edge atop two stiles. Below the crest rail are three banisters which attach at the bottom to the stay rail. Each front edge of each banister, and the bottom edge of the stay rail, are molded with a cyma curve, or S-curve. Above the seat, each stile angles backward. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that angles backward down to the foot. Each arm has a scrolled handhold that extends past the top of the front leg. The top surface of each arm and handhold is rounded. Each front leg is turned with a baluster over three blocks, with each block separated by a baluster; the leg terminates in a baluster-shaped foot. Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm. Each armchair has a trapezoidal rush seat. The front of each armchair has a stretcher turned with a double-baluster-and-ring form. Each side has two stretchers; the top stretcher is turned with a double baluster form, while the bottom stretcher is rectangular. There is one rectangular stretcher in the back. Each armchair has an overall red stain.
Condition: Chair .1 has many insect holes in the lower legs and stretchers, the right arm, the upper banisters, and the crest rail. The left seat rail of .1 is broken in half. Both chairs are refinished and have replaced rush seats.
Design and Construction Details: Each armchair's crest rail is supported on each side by a tenon at the top of the stile and by wooden pins through the crest rail. Each banister is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail is tenoned and pinned into the stiles. The back of each arm is tenoned into the stile. The bottom edges of each arm are chamfered. Each front leg is tenoned into the arm above. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Condition: Chair .1 has many insect holes in the lower legs and stretchers, the right arm, the upper banisters, and the crest rail. The left seat rail of .1 is broken in half. Both chairs are refinished and have replaced rush seats.
Design and Construction Details: Each armchair's crest rail is supported on each side by a tenon at the top of the stile and by wooden pins through the crest rail. Each banister is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail is tenoned and pinned into the stiles. The back of each arm is tenoned into the stile. The bottom edges of each arm are chamfered. Each front leg is tenoned into the arm above. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Status
Not on view
