Armchair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Laura Dibble
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1810-1820
MediumMaple, ash, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 35 1/8 x 19 3/4 x 19 7/8in. (89.2 x 50.2 x 50.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mary W. Edwards
Object number1984.42.22
DescriptionBlack, painted armchair in the Empire, or late neoclassical, style, with a rectangular crest rail, turned spindles, legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by a horizontal, rectangular crest rail at the top between two stiles. The crest rail is bowed back in the center; the top edge of the crest rail is set down about one inch below the top of each stile. Below the crest rail are four slender, baluster-and-ring turned spindles, which attach at the bottom to a stay rail. The plain, turned stay rail is bowed back in the center. Above the seat, each cylindrical stile angles backward. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical leg that curves back slightly. Each arm is bowed outward in the center, and extends three quarters of the depth of the seat. Each arm is supported at the front by a conical arm support that is joined to the side seat rail. Centered below each arm are two slender, baluster-and-ring turned spindles, then a curved rail that joins the arm support and the stile. The trapezoidal rush seat is supported at the front on a curved block at the top of each of the front legs. Each front leg is tapered slightly, with a recessed ring at the top and the ankle. The front and back of the armchair each have a single plain, turned stretcher joining the legs. Each side of the armchair has two plain, turned stretchers joining the legs.
Painted Decoration. The armchair frame is painted black overall with gilded decoration. An abstract gilt design of a bird inside an oval wreath flanked by a geometric design of leaves and arrows is stenciled on the crest rail (now faded). Gold bands circle the rings on the spindles and front legs. Thin gold lines are painted on the spindles, stiles, arm support, and front leg.
Condition: The gold paint on the crest rail is faded. The black and gold paint is worn off the top of each arm, the inside of the arm supports, and the top of the front stretcher. The black paint is chipped on the arm supports, and front legs. The black and gold paint may have been touched up in a few areas. A second screw has been added to the bottom of the left arm support. The rush seat is probably replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail and stay rail are tenoned into the stiles. The spindles are tenoned into the crest rail above and the stay rail below. The back of each arm is tenoned into the stile. The front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the arm support. The bottom of each arm support is screwed into the side seat rail and extends down about 1 ½ inches past the side seat rail. The rail below each arm is tenoned into the arm support and stile; the spindles are tenoned into the arm above and through the rail below. The seat rails are tenoned into the stiles at the back, and into a quarter-round block at the top of each front leg. The seat rails are probably bladelike with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. Each block rests on a tenon at the top of the front leg. Each stretcher is tenoned into the lower legs.
Painted Decoration. The armchair frame is painted black overall with gilded decoration. An abstract gilt design of a bird inside an oval wreath flanked by a geometric design of leaves and arrows is stenciled on the crest rail (now faded). Gold bands circle the rings on the spindles and front legs. Thin gold lines are painted on the spindles, stiles, arm support, and front leg.
Condition: The gold paint on the crest rail is faded. The black and gold paint is worn off the top of each arm, the inside of the arm supports, and the top of the front stretcher. The black paint is chipped on the arm supports, and front legs. The black and gold paint may have been touched up in a few areas. A second screw has been added to the bottom of the left arm support. The rush seat is probably replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail and stay rail are tenoned into the stiles. The spindles are tenoned into the crest rail above and the stay rail below. The back of each arm is tenoned into the stile. The front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the arm support. The bottom of each arm support is screwed into the side seat rail and extends down about 1 ½ inches past the side seat rail. The rail below each arm is tenoned into the arm support and stile; the spindles are tenoned into the arm above and through the rail below. The seat rails are tenoned into the stiles at the back, and into a quarter-round block at the top of each front leg. The seat rails are probably bladelike with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. Each block rests on a tenon at the top of the front leg. Each stretcher is tenoned into the lower legs.
Status
Not on view
