Armchair
Furniture MakerPossibly made by
Ozias Buddington
(American, 1712 - 1759)
Furniture MakerPossibly made by
Edward Buddington
(American, born 1708)
Date1740-1780
MediumMaple, ash, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 48 1/2 x 21 13/16 x 18 1/4in. (123.2 x 55.4 x 46.4cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Aetna Life Insurance Company
Object number1960.42.1
DescriptionArmchair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a slat-back, turned stiles, front legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the armchair is formed by five horizontal slats between two turned stiles; each stile has a ball and ring finial at the top, over alternating cylinder and ring forms. The slats are curved back in the center. Each slat has a shaped top edge that is horizontal in the center and tapers down to the sides. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg. Each arm is bowed down slightly in the center and has a handhold that extends past the top of the front leg. Each front leg is turned with four cylinders, each separated by a ring. Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm. The chair has a trapezoidal rush seat. Each side of the chair has a turned stretcher below the arm and above the rush seat, connecting the upper portion of the front leg to the stile at the back. Each of these stretchers is turned with a double-ball-and-ring form. The front of the chair has two stretchers, each turned with a double-baluster-and-ring form. Both sides and the back each have two plain turned stretchers. The armchair frame is painted black.
Condition: The armchair has been disassembled and re-glued. There is a hole, or recessed area, where the round tenon at the top of the front leg extends up into the handhold on each arm. The black paint is a later addition. The rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top and the middle slat are tenoned and pinned into each stile; the other slats are tenoned into each stile. The back of each arm is tenoned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the handhold above. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front or back legs and the stiles. Faint grooves circle the stiles and legs, marking the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Condition: The armchair has been disassembled and re-glued. There is a hole, or recessed area, where the round tenon at the top of the front leg extends up into the handhold on each arm. The black paint is a later addition. The rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top and the middle slat are tenoned and pinned into each stile; the other slats are tenoned into each stile. The back of each arm is tenoned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the handhold above. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front or back legs and the stiles. Faint grooves circle the stiles and legs, marking the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Status
Not on view
