Highchair
Furniture MakerMade by
Union Chair Co.
(American, 1849 - 1888)
Date1850-1870
MediumMaple, pine, red, black, and gold paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 30 1/2 x 16 7/16 x 15in. (77.5 x 41.8 x 38.1cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of James W. Upson
Object number1953.60.0
DescriptionPainted highchair in the Empire, or late neoclassical, style, with turned posts and legs and a plank seat. The highchair has a horizontal crest rail, or bow, with an arched top edge that curves around to form the curved handholds. The crest rail is supported by six turned posts, each with a ring in the center. The plank seat is D-shaped, with a slight peak at the center front edge. It is supported by four legs that are raked, or angled, from top to bottom. Each back leg is cylindrical, over a gently tapered foot. Each front leg is turned with ring, ball, and cylinder forms over a gently tapered foot. The front of the highchair has a footrest, consisting of a horizontal slat of wood supported by a cylindrical post at each end that is attached to the front of the front legs. All four sides of the highchair have a plain turned stretcher connecting the lower portion of the legs.
Painted Decoration. The highchair is painted black and red to imitate rosewood grain. A gold rectangle is painted on the front of the crest rail, below the arch. A gold diamond is painted on the front of the plank seat. Gold bands circle the turned decoration on the posts and front legs.
Condition: The crest rail is constructed in three pieces; the two lower pieces have split in the center. The left handhold has broken off the crest rail and has been repaired with three screws and a nail. The paint is flaking and well worn overall the surfaces of the chair, but especially the handholds, the top front edge of the seat, the footrest, and the front stretcher.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is constructed of three pieces of wood. The first piece is an arched section that forms the top center of the crest rail. Below this are a left and a right piece that are joined in the center with a butt joint. The three sections are glued together. The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each of the six posts. The posts are tenoned into the plank seat. The plank seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each of the turned legs. The supports for the foot rest are tenoned into the front legs, and the foot rest is nailed down on top of these supports. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower portion of the legs.
Painted Decoration. The highchair is painted black and red to imitate rosewood grain. A gold rectangle is painted on the front of the crest rail, below the arch. A gold diamond is painted on the front of the plank seat. Gold bands circle the turned decoration on the posts and front legs.
Condition: The crest rail is constructed in three pieces; the two lower pieces have split in the center. The left handhold has broken off the crest rail and has been repaired with three screws and a nail. The paint is flaking and well worn overall the surfaces of the chair, but especially the handholds, the top front edge of the seat, the footrest, and the front stretcher.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is constructed of three pieces of wood. The first piece is an arched section that forms the top center of the crest rail. Below this are a left and a right piece that are joined in the center with a butt joint. The three sections are glued together. The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each of the six posts. The posts are tenoned into the plank seat. The plank seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each of the turned legs. The supports for the foot rest are tenoned into the front legs, and the foot rest is nailed down on top of these supports. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower portion of the legs.
Status
Not on view
