Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Hannah Welles
(American, 1760 - 1844)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Simeon Goodrich
(American, 1762 - 1847)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1788
MediumMaple, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 39 7/8 x 20 1/4 x 17 1/2in. (101.3 x 51.4 x 44.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George H. Gilman, Jr.
Object number1985.14.12
DescriptionMaple side chair in the Chippendale style, with a yoke-shaped crest rail, a vase-shaped splat, turned front legs and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by a yoke-shaped crest rail atop two stiles. The center of the crest rail is arched, and each side has an ear that curves up. Centered below the crest rail is a sold, vase-shaped splat, which attaches at the bottom to the stay rail. Above the seat, each stile angles backward. Below the seat, each stile forms a leg that angles backward. Each front leg is turned with a sequence of baluster, block, baluster, block, over a Spanish foot. Above the top turned baluster, each front leg has a block that supports the rails of the rush seat, which is trapezoidal in shape. The front stretcher connecting the two front legs is turned with a double-baluster-and-ring form. Each side has two stretchers, each turned with a double-baluster form. The back stretcher is turned with a slender ovoid swelling in the center. The side chair has an overall red wash.
Condition: The chair is refinished, and the rush is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by a tenon at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The sides of the splat are chamfered slightly. Both back edges of each stile are chamfered above the stay rail. 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 are tenoned into the stiles at the back, and into the separate block at the top of each leg at the front. Each of the blocks is supported by a tenon at the top of the front leg; the top of each block is chamfered on the front and side edges. The stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Condition: The chair is refinished, and the rush is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by a tenon at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The sides of the splat are chamfered slightly. Both back edges of each stile are chamfered above the stay rail. 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 are tenoned into the stiles at the back, and into the separate block at the top of each leg at the front. Each of the blocks is supported by a tenon at the top of the front leg; the top of each block is chamfered on the front and side edges. The stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Status
Not on view
