Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
George Belden family
(American)
Furniture MakerPossibly made by the school of
Eliphalet Chapin
(American, 1741 - 1807)
Furniture MakerPossibly made by
George Belden
(American, 1770 - 1838)
Date1770-1800
MediumCherry, pine, linen, canvas, and horsehair and grass stuffing
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 38 x 21 1/8 x 19 3/4in. (96.5 x 53.7 x 50.2cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1970.47.0a,b
DescriptionCherry side chair in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with a scalloped crest rail, a pierced, vase-shaped splat, straight front legs, and a removable slip seat. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail atop two stiles. The crest rail consists of a central arch and two side arches, with a small, curved ear at each end. Centered below the crest rail is a pierced, vase-shaped splat with interlocking arches and quatrefoils in a Gothic-style pattern. The bottom center edge of the crest rail is carved to continue the pierced shapes in the splat below. The medial arches of the splat are also carved up onto the front of the crest rail. The splat is joined at the bottom to a tapered splat shoe, just above the back seat rail. Above the seat, each stile is slanted back. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that is slanted toward the center back of the chair. The seat is trapezoidal, with a removable slip seat upholstered with the original linen undercover. The slip seat sits just inside the four seat rails at the top of the legs. The straight front legs extend from the height of the seat down to a plain foot. The back and each side of the chair have a plain, rectangular stretcher joining the legs. A medial stretcher joins the two side stretchers.
Condition: The seat blocks at each front corner may be replaced. The front and back of the crest rail, the front seat rail, and the lower front legs are worn and scratched. The frame has never been refinished; the present resin layer was applied over the original stain and varnish. The upholstered slip seat is original.
Design and Construction Details:
Design: The top edges of the front and side seat rails, the top of the legs, and the front exterior edge of each front leg all have a line of molding consisting of an ovolo flanked by a fillet.
Chair Frame. The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail; the lower section of the back of the crest rail is a separate piece that is glued in place and shaped to conform to the pierced openings in the splat. The splat is tenoned into the splat shoe at the top of the back seat rail. The back seat rail is tenoned and pinned into the stiles. Each side seat rail is tenoned through the stile; the joint is secured with a wooden pin through the side of the stile (there are no wedges through the back of the tenon). The front of each side seat rail is tenoned and pinned into the top of the front leg. The front seat rail is tenoned into the top of each front leg. The interior top edge of the front and side seat rails, as well as the top of each front leg, all have a rabbet to support the upholstered slip seat. The interior back corners of the seat never had a corner block. The front interior corners of the seat frame each have a vertical-grain glue block and a vertical-grain triangular corner block nailed in place (possibly replaced). There are no corner blocks on the back interior corners of the seat frame. Each side stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the front leg and is tenoned into the lower portion of the back leg. The back stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the back legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side stretchers.
Upholstered Slip Seat (original). The side chair is accompanied by a removable slip seat (top upholstery material is missing). The slip seat consists of a linen undercover over grass and horsehair stuffing, linen sackcloth, canvas webbing, and a trapezoidal wooden frame. The undercover is nailed to the underside of the frame. Pieces of the original upholstery are visible under the nail heads.
Condition: The seat blocks at each front corner may be replaced. The front and back of the crest rail, the front seat rail, and the lower front legs are worn and scratched. The frame has never been refinished; the present resin layer was applied over the original stain and varnish. The upholstered slip seat is original.
Design and Construction Details:
Design: The top edges of the front and side seat rails, the top of the legs, and the front exterior edge of each front leg all have a line of molding consisting of an ovolo flanked by a fillet.
Chair Frame. The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail; the lower section of the back of the crest rail is a separate piece that is glued in place and shaped to conform to the pierced openings in the splat. The splat is tenoned into the splat shoe at the top of the back seat rail. The back seat rail is tenoned and pinned into the stiles. Each side seat rail is tenoned through the stile; the joint is secured with a wooden pin through the side of the stile (there are no wedges through the back of the tenon). The front of each side seat rail is tenoned and pinned into the top of the front leg. The front seat rail is tenoned into the top of each front leg. The interior top edge of the front and side seat rails, as well as the top of each front leg, all have a rabbet to support the upholstered slip seat. The interior back corners of the seat never had a corner block. The front interior corners of the seat frame each have a vertical-grain glue block and a vertical-grain triangular corner block nailed in place (possibly replaced). There are no corner blocks on the back interior corners of the seat frame. Each side stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the front leg and is tenoned into the lower portion of the back leg. The back stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the back legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side stretchers.
Upholstered Slip Seat (original). The side chair is accompanied by a removable slip seat (top upholstery material is missing). The slip seat consists of a linen undercover over grass and horsehair stuffing, linen sackcloth, canvas webbing, and a trapezoidal wooden frame. The undercover is nailed to the underside of the frame. Pieces of the original upholstery are visible under the nail heads.
Status
Not on view
