Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Morgan Gardner Bulkeley
(American, 1837 - 1922)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1905-1920
MediumChestnut, pine, leather
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 39 3/16 x 20 x 18in. (99.5 x 50.8 x 45.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Houghton Bulkeley
Object number1951.25.1
DescriptionChestnut side chair in the Arts and Crafts style, with a banister-back, straight stiles and front legs, and a removable leather upholstered slip seat. The back of the crest rail is formed by a crest rail with a slight arch in the top edge, at the top between two stiles. Centered below the crest rail are five banisters, which attach at the bottom to the stay rail. The crest rail and stay rail are bowed back slightly in the center. The top of each stay rail widens slightly. The bottom edge of the stay rail is arched. Each stile is straight and extends down below the seat to form the straight back foot. Each front leg is straight as well; the top of each front leg is slightly higher than the seat rails. A short diagonal brace extends from each stile to each side seat rail. The slip seat sits just inside the four seat rails; each seat rail has a shaped lower edge consisting of an arch in the center, flanked by a downward curve, then a horizontal area where the rail meets the leg. The seat is trapezoidal with a removable slip seat upholstered with brown leather. Each side of the chair has a plain, rectangular stretcher joining the legs. A rectangular medial stretcher joins the two side stretchers.
Condition: The chair frame is well worn, with multiple scratches and areas of wear on the diagonal braces, seat rails, front legs, stretchers, and lower back legs. The greatest area of wear is on the front legs, feet, and lower front edge of the medial stretcher. The leather is torn in two places and scratched and worn at the edges.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail and stay rail are tenoned into the stiles; these joints are secured with a small nail through the back of the stile which is hidden with a round wooden plug. Each banister is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. Each diagonal brace is held in place with a screw through the back of the stile and the underside of the seat rail; the screw through the back of the stile is hidden with a round wooden plug. Each seat rail is tenoned into the legs. Each interior corner of the seat frame has a triangular corner block screwed to the inside of the seat rails. The slip seat rests on these corner blocks and two strips of wood, one of which is screwed to the interior of the front seat rail and one at the back seat rail. The side stretchers are tenoned into the legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers; this joint is secured with a nail through the underside of the stretcher which is hidden with a small wooden plug.
Upholstered Slip Seat. The chair is accompanied by a removable, slip seat upholstered in brown leather. Below the leather is an linen undercover, stuffing material, sackcloth and webbing. The webbing and leather are nailed to the slip seat frame. Black fabric is nailed to the underside of the slip seat frame.
NotesOwner Note: Morgan G. Bulkeley was the Republican Governor of Connecticut from 1889 to 1893.Condition: The chair frame is well worn, with multiple scratches and areas of wear on the diagonal braces, seat rails, front legs, stretchers, and lower back legs. The greatest area of wear is on the front legs, feet, and lower front edge of the medial stretcher. The leather is torn in two places and scratched and worn at the edges.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail and stay rail are tenoned into the stiles; these joints are secured with a small nail through the back of the stile which is hidden with a round wooden plug. Each banister is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. Each diagonal brace is held in place with a screw through the back of the stile and the underside of the seat rail; the screw through the back of the stile is hidden with a round wooden plug. Each seat rail is tenoned into the legs. Each interior corner of the seat frame has a triangular corner block screwed to the inside of the seat rails. The slip seat rests on these corner blocks and two strips of wood, one of which is screwed to the interior of the front seat rail and one at the back seat rail. The side stretchers are tenoned into the legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers; this joint is secured with a nail through the underside of the stretcher which is hidden with a small wooden plug.
Upholstered Slip Seat. The chair is accompanied by a removable, slip seat upholstered in brown leather. Below the leather is an linen undercover, stuffing material, sackcloth and webbing. The webbing and leather are nailed to the slip seat frame. Black fabric is nailed to the underside of the slip seat frame.
Status
Not on view
