Side Chair
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Samuel Hanmer Jr.
(American, 1778 - 1852)
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Lucy Crane
(American, about 1777 - 1827)
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Levi Churchill
(American, 1759 - 1836)
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Hannah Belding
(1769 - 1852)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1790-1810
MediumTulip poplar and birch, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 40 3/4 x 19 1/8 x 15 3/4in. (103.5 x 48.6 x 40cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George H. Gilman, Jr.
Object number1985.14.26
DescriptionTulip poplar side chair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a shaped crest rail, a banister-back, turned stiles, legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by a solid crest rail at the top between two turned stiles; each stile has a turned ring at the top. The crest rail has a shaped upper edge, consisting of two raised half circles (portions broken off) in the middle, with a fillet, or short horizontal, a recessed half circle, a raised fillet (portions broken off), and a sloping quarter circle to each side. Below the crest rail are three baluster-and-reel turned banisters, which attach at the bottom to the stay rail. The banisters are turned and split; the rounded side of each banister faces the back of the chair. Above the seat, each stile has baluster-and-reel turnings. The stay rail is taller in the center, because the lower edge curves up at each side. Below the seat, each stile extends down to form the straight back legs and feet. Each front leg is turned with three cylinders that are each separated by a ring. The top of each front leg is slightly higher than the rush seat, which is trapezoidal in shape. The front of the chair has two stretchers, each turned with alternating balusters and rings. Each side has two plain stretchers, and the back has one plain stretcher.
Condition: The finials are sawn off. The upper edges of the crest rail are well worn. One raised half circle has broken off of the crest rail and has been reattached. The turned upper half of each stile is well worn and scratched, especially at the back. The back of the left stile, where it meets the stay rail, has been repaired. The wood around the back stretcher on this stretcher is missing. The front of the right stile, below the upper stretcher, has been repaired. The top surface of both front stretchers is worn. The seat is replaced and varnished. The chair is refinished.
Design and Construction Details: Each end of the crest rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the cylindrical section at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with wooden pin. Each split-spindle banister is tenoned into the crest rail at the top and into the stay rail below. Each end of the stay rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the stile. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Condition: The finials are sawn off. The upper edges of the crest rail are well worn. One raised half circle has broken off of the crest rail and has been reattached. The turned upper half of each stile is well worn and scratched, especially at the back. The back of the left stile, where it meets the stay rail, has been repaired. The wood around the back stretcher on this stretcher is missing. The front of the right stile, below the upper stretcher, has been repaired. The top surface of both front stretchers is worn. The seat is replaced and varnished. The chair is refinished.
Design and Construction Details: Each end of the crest rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the cylindrical section at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with wooden pin. Each split-spindle banister is tenoned into the crest rail at the top and into the stay rail below. Each end of the stay rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the stile. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Status
Not on view
