Armchair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1890-1900
MediumMahogany, mahogany veneer, light wood inlay
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 42 7/8 x 25 7/8 x 26in. (108.9 x 65.7 x 66cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineEstate of Florence S. M. Crofut, gift of Mrs. George H. Day
Object number1974.50.2498
DescriptionArmchair in the Arts and Crafts style, with a semi-circular crest rail, a banister-back, and cabriole front legs over hairy paw feet. The back of the chair is formed by a flat crest rail over twenty-two vertical banisters. The crest rail curves forward from the center; each end of the crest rail is outlined with light wood inlay. The vertical banisters curve up and back from the semi-circular back of the chair seat to the crest rail; the curves are tapered so that each end banister is nearly vertical. The front of each banister is outlined in light wood inlay; above the arm, the exposed side of each end banister is also outlined in lightwood inlay. Each arm is flat, with an undulating profile that curves out to form a scalloped handhold. Each arm is supported by a curved arm support that extends down to the seat. The solid wood seat has a shaped top surface and a projecting curved front edge. The front, side and back edges of the seat rail have wide applied molding. The back legs are curved down and then extend out to form the plain feet. The cabriole front legs have a small notch behind the knee and a slender, stylized hairy-paw foot.
Condition: The veneer on the top of the seat has begun to split and lift from the wood below. The finish on the top and bottom edges of each handhold is worn. The front feet are lightly scratched. A piece of wood has detached from the top of the back left leg. Most of the joints on the chair have been re-glued.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is constructed in three sections, each glued together, and supported at the top of all twenty-two banisters. The banisters are glued and possibly tenoned into the crest rail. All but the end banisters are tenoned at the bottom into the seat. The back of each arm is tenoned into the end banister. The front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the arm support. The bottom of the arm support is joined to the seat, just behind each front leg. The seat is constructed of a solid but relatively thin piece of wood that is veneered on the top and is supported at all sides with a thick, molded frame. The front of the seat curves forward, and peaks upward in the center. The end banisters at the back of the seat, the arm supports, and the back legs are joined to this frame. The top interior side of each back legs is formed from a separate piece of wood that is laminated to the leg (this wood has separated from the back left leg). A small glue block is located at the interior side of the joint where the back leg meets the frame (the right glue block is missing). The front legs are tenoned up into this frame as well.
Condition: The veneer on the top of the seat has begun to split and lift from the wood below. The finish on the top and bottom edges of each handhold is worn. The front feet are lightly scratched. A piece of wood has detached from the top of the back left leg. Most of the joints on the chair have been re-glued.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is constructed in three sections, each glued together, and supported at the top of all twenty-two banisters. The banisters are glued and possibly tenoned into the crest rail. All but the end banisters are tenoned at the bottom into the seat. The back of each arm is tenoned into the end banister. The front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the arm support. The bottom of the arm support is joined to the seat, just behind each front leg. The seat is constructed of a solid but relatively thin piece of wood that is veneered on the top and is supported at all sides with a thick, molded frame. The front of the seat curves forward, and peaks upward in the center. The end banisters at the back of the seat, the arm supports, and the back legs are joined to this frame. The top interior side of each back legs is formed from a separate piece of wood that is laminated to the leg (this wood has separated from the back left leg). A small glue block is located at the interior side of the joint where the back leg meets the frame (the right glue block is missing). The front legs are tenoned up into this frame as well.
Status
Not on view
