Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
John Hanmer
(American, 1801 - 1881)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Hannah Belding Churchill
(American, 1805 - 1886)
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Hannah Belding
(1769 - 1852)
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Levi Churchill
(American, 1759 - 1836)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1825-1835
MediumMaple, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 33 15/16 x 17 11/16 x 19 3/16in. (86.2 x 44.9 x 48.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of George H. Gilman, Jr.
Object number1983.101.7
DescriptionFigured maple side chair in the Empire, or late neoclassical, style, with a turned crest rail, front legs, and stretchers, a carved seat, and a trapezoidal cane seat. The back of the chair is formed by a turned crest rail atop two stiles. Below the crest rail is a carved slat between the stiles, carved with a central flower flanked by leaves and a fleur de lis. The crest rail and slat are bowed back slightly in the center. Above the seat, each stile is curved back and has flat front and side surfaces over a band of four turned rings just above the seat. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg over a tapered foot. Each side seat rail is bowed down in the center and has a scrolled front that corresponds to the circular scroll of the horizontal front seat rail. Each front leg supports the front seat rail, is straight, and is raked slightly out from top to bottom. The leg is turned with a ring over a tapered center section, a tapered ankle, and a small ball foot. The center tapered section has a notch in the center where it tapers abruptly. The front of the chair has a single stretcher turned with tapered ring forms that connect the two front legs. Each side of the chair has two plain, turned stretchers. The back of the chair has a single plain, turned stretcher. The side chair is not painted, revealing the figured grain of the maple that forms the frame.
Condition: The joints where the back seat rail joins the stiles, and where the stretchers meet the front legs are loose. Some joints have been re-glued, where the seat rails meet the stiles and front legs; remnants of glue have dripped down the top of the legs. The frame is probably refinished, and the cane seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is joined to each stile with a lap joint at the top back of the crest rail; this joint is secured with a nail or screw through the back that is concealed with filler. The slat is tenoned into the upper stiles. The back seat rail is tenoned into the front of each stile; the back seat rail extends forward past the front of each stile. Below the back seat rail is a plain, turned support that is tenoned into each stile. The side seat rails are tenoned into the back seat rail and into the front seat rail. Each seat rail has a facing that is nailed to the exterior side. The side seat rail facings are bowed down in the center and have a scrolled front that correspond to the semi-circular scroll of the front seat rail facing. The front seat rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each front leg. The stretchers are tenoned into the legs.
Condition: The joints where the back seat rail joins the stiles, and where the stretchers meet the front legs are loose. Some joints have been re-glued, where the seat rails meet the stiles and front legs; remnants of glue have dripped down the top of the legs. The frame is probably refinished, and the cane seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is joined to each stile with a lap joint at the top back of the crest rail; this joint is secured with a nail or screw through the back that is concealed with filler. The slat is tenoned into the upper stiles. The back seat rail is tenoned into the front of each stile; the back seat rail extends forward past the front of each stile. Below the back seat rail is a plain, turned support that is tenoned into each stile. The side seat rails are tenoned into the back seat rail and into the front seat rail. Each seat rail has a facing that is nailed to the exterior side. The side seat rail facings are bowed down in the center and have a scrolled front that correspond to the semi-circular scroll of the front seat rail facing. The front seat rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each front leg. The stretchers are tenoned into the legs.
Status
Not on view
