Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Ebenezer Williams
(American, 1767 - 1844)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Oliver Williams Mills
(American, 1796 - 1866)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Ann Teresa Phelps
(American)
Date1800-1811
MediumVarious woods, yellow, green, blue and white paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 39 9/16 x 20 1/2 x 18in. (100.5 x 52.1 x 45.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of Marguerite E. Mills
Object number1986.66.3
DescriptionPainted side chair in the Windsor style, with a square-back, bamboo turned posts, legs, and stretchers, and a plank seat. The back of the chair is formed by two horizontal rails, or bows, between two four-part bamboo-turned posts. Below the bottom bow are seven slender spindles. Between the two bows are the top of three spindles that extend up from below. The spindles and posts are slanted back; the spindles are joined to the seat in a semi-circular arrangement. The pine plank seat is square with rounded edges and the sides of the seat are chamfered, or cut at an angle. The plank has a saucered seat, or a concave top surface, with a flat section at the back where the posts and spindles join the seat. The seat is supported by four three-part bamboo turned oak legs. Each side of the chair has a two-part bamboo-turned stretcher that joins the lower legs. A three-part bamboo turned medial stretcher joins the two side stretchers. The side chair is painted with multiple thick layers of paint (flaking): white over two shades of blue, possibly a dark green, two shades of yellow, and a dark stain or finish on the wood.
Condition: The paint is flaking badly, revealing multiple layers of paint history.
Design and Construction Details: The bows are tenoned into the upper posts. The center spindle, and the second spindle to either side are tenoned up through both bows. The remaining spindles are tenoned into the lower bow. The posts are tenoned down through the plank seat. The spindles are tenoned down into the spindle platform. The seat is constructed of a solid plank of wood and supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The side stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers. All the tenons are inserted at an angle, where necessary, to give the proper slant to the bow and each of the spindles and legs.
NotesMaker Note: The name of the maker, Ebenezer Williams, is branded into the underside of the seat as "E WILLIAMS".Condition: The paint is flaking badly, revealing multiple layers of paint history.
Design and Construction Details: The bows are tenoned into the upper posts. The center spindle, and the second spindle to either side are tenoned up through both bows. The remaining spindles are tenoned into the lower bow. The posts are tenoned down through the plank seat. The spindles are tenoned down into the spindle platform. The seat is constructed of a solid plank of wood and supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The side stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers. All the tenons are inserted at an angle, where necessary, to give the proper slant to the bow and each of the spindles and legs.
Status
On view
