Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1850-1870
MediumMaple, cane, velvet
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 33 7/16 x 15 7/8 x 15 15/16in. (84.9 x 40.3 x 40.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Fitzhugh McMaster
Object number1985.98.5
DescriptionPainted side chair in the Rococo revival style, with a pierced crest rail, turned spindles, front legs, and front stretcher, and velvet upholstery over a woven cane seat. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail at the top between two round stiles, each with an acorn-shaped finial at the top. The top center edge of the crest rail has a three-pointed raised projection, flanked by tapered sides, and a recessed half circle. The center of the crest rail has a pierced opening. The bottom edge of the crest rail is shaped with a C-scroll and a reversed C-scroll flanked by a horizontal and tapered sides. Centered below the crest rail are three turned spindles. The stay rail is horizontal, with an undulating top and bottom edge. Above the seat the spindles are tilted back slightly and turned with cylinder, baluster and ring forms. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that is curved back. The seat consists of teal velvet upholstery over stuffing (later additions), and then a woven cane seat. The seat has flat seat rails with rounded outer sides. The front rail is curved outward in the center, and each side rail is shaped in an S-curve. The front of the seat is supported on two legs, each turned with cylinder and ring forms over a tapered foot that curves forward. The front of the chair has a baluster-and-ring turned stretcher connecting the front legs. Each side of the chair has two plain, turned stretchers. The back of the chair has a single turned stretcher.
Painted Decoration (later addition). The chair frame is painted white with purple and green floral decoration painted around the pierced opening on the front of the crest rail. The frame has gilded bands highlighting the turned rings on the spindles, stiles, stretchers, and front legs. The top and bottom front edges of the stay rail are also painted gold.
Condition: The chair frame has later white, gold, purple and green paint over a rosewood graining. The white paint is flaking, revealing the rosewood grain below. The teal velvet upholstery that is tacked into the top of the seat rails is a later addition.
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 into the stay rail below. The back seat rail is tenoned into the stiles; this joint is secured with a nail through the side of the stile. The back seat rail is deeper than the stile; the back of each side seat rail is tenoned into the front of the back seat rail. The front of each side seat rail is tenoned into the back of the front seat rail. The front seat rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each front leg; this joint is secured with two nails through each end of the seat rail. The stretchers are tenoned into the front and back legs.
Upholstery. The upholstery consists of a teal velvet cover with a teal edging, over stuffing, sackcloth, and the woven cane seat. The velvet is nailed down to the top of the seat rails.
Painted Decoration (later addition). The chair frame is painted white with purple and green floral decoration painted around the pierced opening on the front of the crest rail. The frame has gilded bands highlighting the turned rings on the spindles, stiles, stretchers, and front legs. The top and bottom front edges of the stay rail are also painted gold.
Condition: The chair frame has later white, gold, purple and green paint over a rosewood graining. The white paint is flaking, revealing the rosewood grain below. The teal velvet upholstery that is tacked into the top of the seat rails is a later addition.
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 into the stay rail below. The back seat rail is tenoned into the stiles; this joint is secured with a nail through the side of the stile. The back seat rail is deeper than the stile; the back of each side seat rail is tenoned into the front of the back seat rail. The front of each side seat rail is tenoned into the back of the front seat rail. The front seat rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each front leg; this joint is secured with two nails through each end of the seat rail. The stretchers are tenoned into the front and back legs.
Upholstery. The upholstery consists of a teal velvet cover with a teal edging, over stuffing, sackcloth, and the woven cane seat. The velvet is nailed down to the top of the seat rails.
Status
Not on view
