Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1780-1820
MediumWood, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 37 x 21 x 20in. (94 x 53.3 x 50.8cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Fitzhugh McMaster
Object number1985.98.2
DescriptionRed-painted side chair in the Federal, or early neoclassical, style, with a wavy slat-back and a trapezoidal rush seat. The back of the armchair is formed by three slats between two stiles; each stile has a flat front surface. The slats are curved back in the center, and each has a wavy, or undulating, profile. Above the seat, each stile is slanted back slightly. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg. Each front leg is straight, with a block on top that supports the front corners of the trapezoidal rush seat. The woven rush seat sits inside four seat rail facings that cover the edges of the rush. The front of the chair has a single rectangular stretcher joining the front legs. Both sides and the back each have two plain turned stretchers.
Painted Decoration (later addition). The frame is painted red, with thin lines of gold paint outlining the top of the stiles and the slats, and running along the molded corners of the front stretcher and the front legs. The block at the top of each front leg is painted with a gold eight-pointed star or flower. A pair of gold bands circles each of the sides and the back stretchers. The top of the rush seat is painted yellow or gold.
Condition: The painted decoration dates from the mid to late nineteenth century, and is a later addition to the chair. The paint is flaking slightly on the top and side of the left seat rail facing and on the outer side of each block at the top of the front legs. There are some small nicks and scratches to the paint on the front stretcher and on the lower front legs.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into the stiles; the two slats below are tenoned into the stiles. The slats are curved back in the center; the top slat has a deeper curve than slats below. Above the seat, the back of each stile is semi-circular. The seat is constructed of four hidden seat rails that are tenoned into the stiles at the back and into the block at the top of each leg in the front. The rush is woven around this frame. The red-painted seat rail facings on all four sides of the frame are nailed in place over the hidden seat rails. The front stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the front legs. The outer corner of each front leg and the top front edge of the front stretcher are molded with an ovolo flanked by a fillet. Both sides and the back each have two plain turned stretchers that are tenoned into the legs.
Painted Decoration (later addition). The frame is painted red, with thin lines of gold paint outlining the top of the stiles and the slats, and running along the molded corners of the front stretcher and the front legs. The block at the top of each front leg is painted with a gold eight-pointed star or flower. A pair of gold bands circles each of the sides and the back stretchers. The top of the rush seat is painted yellow or gold.
Condition: The painted decoration dates from the mid to late nineteenth century, and is a later addition to the chair. The paint is flaking slightly on the top and side of the left seat rail facing and on the outer side of each block at the top of the front legs. There are some small nicks and scratches to the paint on the front stretcher and on the lower front legs.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into the stiles; the two slats below are tenoned into the stiles. The slats are curved back in the center; the top slat has a deeper curve than slats below. Above the seat, the back of each stile is semi-circular. The seat is constructed of four hidden seat rails that are tenoned into the stiles at the back and into the block at the top of each leg in the front. The rush is woven around this frame. The red-painted seat rail facings on all four sides of the frame are nailed in place over the hidden seat rails. The front stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the front legs. The outer corner of each front leg and the top front edge of the front stretcher are molded with an ovolo flanked by a fillet. Both sides and the back each have two plain turned stretchers that are tenoned into the legs.
Status
Not on view
