Reproduction Armchairs
Furniture MakerMade by
Harold D. Margolis
(American, 1905 - 1984)
Date1960
MediumMahogany, red leather, brass nails
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth of each armchair): 40 5/8 x 24 3/8 x 21 1/4in. (103.2 x 61.9 x 54cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Newton C. Brainard
Object number1960.103.12-.18
DescriptionGroup of three mahogany reproduction armchairs (.13, .14, .17) in the Federal, or early neoclassical, style, with a shield-shaped back, an urn in the splat, tapered front legs, and over-the-rails red leather upholstery. The back of each chair is shield-shaped, consisting of an arched crest rail with squared ends, at the top of U-shaped sides that curve down to a point at the bottom. The front of the shield is molded with two wide recessed flutes, flanked by incised bead molding. The splat, inside the shield-shaped back, consists of two curved ribs at the sides and top, each terminating at the top in a carved rosette, over an urn with seven raised reeds at the bottom. Below this is a conical panel, a fluted trapezoidal panel, and three curved ribs. At each side of the shield-shaped back, stiles extend down to form the back legs. Above the seat, the stiles and the back of the chair are slanted back slightly. Below the seat the stiles are angled back. Each arm slants down slightly and extends from the stile forward about half of the depth of the chair. The arm is supported at the front by a curved arm support that extends down and forward to the side rail, just behind the front leg. The front of the arm and arm support are molded with two wide recessed flutes, flanked by incised bead molding. Each seat is trapezoidal, with a serpentine front and side seat rails that curve outward. Each seat is upholstered with over-the-rails red leather that is secured with a line of brass nails at the bottom edge of the front and side seat rails. The front legs are tapered and extend from the height of the seat down to the foot. The front of each front leg is inlaid with a carrot, or tapered light wood inlay over a small bead, flanked by a thin line, over a wide horizontal band of light wood inlay at the ankle. The back and each side of the chair have a plain rectangular stretcher connecting the lower legs. A medial stretcher joins the two side stretchers.
Condition: There are light nicks and scratches on the exterior front edges of the arm supports and front legs of each armchair. Each armchair has been reupholstered. The front edge of the red leather on armchair .13 is cracked. The front left edge of the red leather on armchair .14 has been gouged. The center of the red leather on armchair .14 has a circular pattern of cracks. The brass nails on each armchair are slightly tarnished.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile. Each stile forms a portion of the side of the shield-shaped back, and extends down to form the support for the back as well as the back leg. Above the seat, the back of the crest rail and each stile is rounded. The stay rail, which forms the lower center section of each shield-shaped back, is tenoned into the stiles. The splat is tenoned up into the crest rail and down into the stay rail. The back of each arm is screwed into the stile from the back; the screw is hidden with a round wooden plug. The front of the arms are each supported on a tenon at the top of the arm support. These in turn are screwed into the side seat rail; the screws are inserted through the inside of the side seat rails. The back seat rail and the back of each side seat rail are tenoned into the stiles. The front seat rail and each side seat rail are constructed of a single piece of wood with a curved interior surface. Each interior seat corners of each chair frame has a triangular corner block with a recessed center surface that is screwed into the seat rails. A block of wood is screwed into the back of the seat frame, over the corner blocks. The back stretcher and each side stretcher is tenoned into the lower legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side stretchers.
Upholstery (replaced). The armchair has over-the-rails red morocco leather over a linen undercover, stuffing, sackcloth, and canvas webbing that is tacked to the top of the seat rails. The red leather is held in place with a line of brass nails at the bottom front edges of the front and side seat rails, with additional brass nails at the corners and in front of each arm support. The red leather is further secured to the seat frame with small tacks through the underside of the seat rails.
NotesHistorical Note: This armchair is a reproduction of an original Senate Armchair from the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut.Condition: There are light nicks and scratches on the exterior front edges of the arm supports and front legs of each armchair. Each armchair has been reupholstered. The front edge of the red leather on armchair .13 is cracked. The front left edge of the red leather on armchair .14 has been gouged. The center of the red leather on armchair .14 has a circular pattern of cracks. The brass nails on each armchair are slightly tarnished.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile. Each stile forms a portion of the side of the shield-shaped back, and extends down to form the support for the back as well as the back leg. Above the seat, the back of the crest rail and each stile is rounded. The stay rail, which forms the lower center section of each shield-shaped back, is tenoned into the stiles. The splat is tenoned up into the crest rail and down into the stay rail. The back of each arm is screwed into the stile from the back; the screw is hidden with a round wooden plug. The front of the arms are each supported on a tenon at the top of the arm support. These in turn are screwed into the side seat rail; the screws are inserted through the inside of the side seat rails. The back seat rail and the back of each side seat rail are tenoned into the stiles. The front seat rail and each side seat rail are constructed of a single piece of wood with a curved interior surface. Each interior seat corners of each chair frame has a triangular corner block with a recessed center surface that is screwed into the seat rails. A block of wood is screwed into the back of the seat frame, over the corner blocks. The back stretcher and each side stretcher is tenoned into the lower legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side stretchers.
Upholstery (replaced). The armchair has over-the-rails red morocco leather over a linen undercover, stuffing, sackcloth, and canvas webbing that is tacked to the top of the seat rails. The red leather is held in place with a line of brass nails at the bottom front edges of the front and side seat rails, with additional brass nails at the corners and in front of each arm support. The red leather is further secured to the seat frame with small tacks through the underside of the seat rails.
Status
Not on view
