Armchair
Furniture MakerMade by
Amos Denison Allen
(American, 1774 - 1855)
Date1797-1800
MediumButternut, maple, ash, oak
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 30 5/8 x 20 x 20 1/8in. (77.8 x 50.8 x 51.1cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of Robert H. Schutz, Jr.
Object number1991.60.10
DescriptionArmchair in the Windsor style, with a continuous bow-back, bracing spindles, turned posts, legs, and stretchers, and a plank seat. The continuous bow back consists of a bow, or a oak stick, bent in an arch that sweeps forward at each side to form an arm and flat scrolled handhold. The front of the bow is flat with a beaded edge. The top of the arms are flat and each handhold has a small spur behind the scroll. The bow is supported by twelve swelled spindles of varying height, two turned posts at either side, and two swelled bracing spindles in a "V" at the back of the seat. The swelled spindles have a bulge in the lower half and are tapered up to the top. The posts are turned with wide baluster forms. The back of the armchair is slanted back; the spindles and posts are joined to the seat in a semi-circular arrangement. The bracing spindles are joined to the semi-circular seat extension at the back of the chair. The butternut plank seat is shield-shaped and has a saddled seat, or contoured upper surface with a raised ridge at the front center, with a flat surface at the back where the spindles and posts join the seat. The sides and back of the plank are curved and chamfered, or cut at an angle. Below the seat are four turned legs that are raked, or slanted out from top to bottom; each is turned with wide baluster and ring forms over a tapered ankle and foot. Each side of the chair has a single stretcher with an ovoid form in the center flanked by a tapered form. Between the stretcher is a single medial stretcher with the same turnings.
Condition: The front of the plank has a short split; portions have been repaired with a small patch. The tenon at the top of the two right legs have been reinforced with small wedges at the edge of the mortise. The armchair is refinished. The underside of the seat has a few areas of an earlier light green paint. The underside of the left side of the seat, left side stretcher and medial stretcher have a few drips of an unknown yellow substance.
Design and Construction Details: The bow is supported on a through tenon at the top of the posts and all but four spindles; four of the spindles are only tenoned up into the bow. The bracing spindles are tenoned and pinned through the bow. The through tenons have a small wedge through the end of the tenon. Each spindle is tenoned down into the spindle platform; the bracing spindles are tenoned down into the rounded seat extension. Each post is tenoned down through the plank seat; a wedge is inserted into the end of the tenons. The seat and seat extension are constructed of a solid plank of wood and supported on a through 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.
Condition: The front of the plank has a short split; portions have been repaired with a small patch. The tenon at the top of the two right legs have been reinforced with small wedges at the edge of the mortise. The armchair is refinished. The underside of the seat has a few areas of an earlier light green paint. The underside of the left side of the seat, left side stretcher and medial stretcher have a few drips of an unknown yellow substance.
Design and Construction Details: The bow is supported on a through tenon at the top of the posts and all but four spindles; four of the spindles are only tenoned up into the bow. The bracing spindles are tenoned and pinned through the bow. The through tenons have a small wedge through the end of the tenon. Each spindle is tenoned down into the spindle platform; the bracing spindles are tenoned down into the rounded seat extension. Each post is tenoned down through the plank seat; a wedge is inserted into the end of the tenons. The seat and seat extension are constructed of a solid plank of wood and supported on a through 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
Not on view
