Close Stool
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1840-1870
MediumPine, maple, black, red, green, and gold paint, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 40 1/8 x 22 3/8 x 21 5/8in. (101.9 x 56.8 x 54.9cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of David Weissman
DescriptionPainted clothes stool armchair in the Windsor style, with a rounded tablet-top crest rail, a plank seat with a lidded opening in the center over a square chamber, and turned arm supports and legs. The back of the chair is formed by a solid tablet-top crest rail atop six slender spindles and two plain, turned posts. The crest rail is bowed back in the center, and has curved upper corners and a shaped lower edge consisting of a horizontal section in the center flanked by a raised half circle and a horizontal section at the side. The arms are scrolled, or bowed down in the center, with a downward scrolled handhold. Each arm is supported by a slender spindle and a turned arm support just behind the handhold. The seat is square with rounded corners and has a circular opening in the center, with a disc-shaped lid that fits in the opening. Below the seat are four straight legs, each with a rectangular block at the top over a swelled ankle and foot. The legs are raked slightly, or tilted out from top to bottom. Each leg forms a the corner of the chamber below the seat that would have contained a chamber pot or pan. The back of the chamber has a wooden knob at the top and pivots open on two iron hinges at the bottom. Each side of the chair has a single plain, turned stretcher.
Painted Decoration. The chair is painted with black and red paint on the spindles and posts, seat, chamber and upper legs to imitate grained wood. The crest rail has a stenciled design of fruit and birds in the center flanked by a basket weave pattern then a design of meandering vines and leaves. Each spindle, post and arm support has gold-painted bands. The top of the seat is outlined with a gold line.
Condition: The paint is worn and flaking on the spindles, arms, top and front of the seat, all four sides of the chamber, and the legs. The bottom of the chamber has probably been replaced. The lower edges of the front and sides of the chamber have each been repaired.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each spindle and post. The back of each arm is screwed into the post; the front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the spindle and the top of the arm support. The spindles are tenoned down into the seat, while the posts and arm supports are each tenoned down through the seat. The circular opening in the seat has rounded edges. The lid is constructed of a single round piece of wood with canted top sides and cylindrical lower sides. Two cylindrical holes are drilled into the top of the lid; the holes do not extend completely through the lid. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The front and each side of the chamber are constructed of thin boards that slide into vertical grooves on the sides of the rectangular block at the top half of each leg. The back of the chamber has a rail that slides into horizontal grooves on the interior sides of the back legs. The door is constructed of a board that swings open on hinges that are joined to this rail. The interior sides of the back legs are rabbeted to accommodate the door when closed. The bottom of the chamber is constructed of a two boards board that are held in place with nails through the bottom edge of the boards that form the sides of the chamber. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs.
Painted Decoration. The chair is painted with black and red paint on the spindles and posts, seat, chamber and upper legs to imitate grained wood. The crest rail has a stenciled design of fruit and birds in the center flanked by a basket weave pattern then a design of meandering vines and leaves. Each spindle, post and arm support has gold-painted bands. The top of the seat is outlined with a gold line.
Condition: The paint is worn and flaking on the spindles, arms, top and front of the seat, all four sides of the chamber, and the legs. The bottom of the chamber has probably been replaced. The lower edges of the front and sides of the chamber have each been repaired.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each spindle and post. The back of each arm is screwed into the post; the front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the spindle and the top of the arm support. The spindles are tenoned down into the seat, while the posts and arm supports are each tenoned down through the seat. The circular opening in the seat has rounded edges. The lid is constructed of a single round piece of wood with canted top sides and cylindrical lower sides. Two cylindrical holes are drilled into the top of the lid; the holes do not extend completely through the lid. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The front and each side of the chamber are constructed of thin boards that slide into vertical grooves on the sides of the rectangular block at the top half of each leg. The back of the chamber has a rail that slides into horizontal grooves on the interior sides of the back legs. The door is constructed of a board that swings open on hinges that are joined to this rail. The interior sides of the back legs are rabbeted to accommodate the door when closed. The bottom of the chamber is constructed of a two boards board that are held in place with nails through the bottom edge of the boards that form the sides of the chamber. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs.
Object number1985.152.0
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