Armchair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Wyllys family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
ConservatorConserved by
Smith Ely
(American)
Date1685-1705
MediumWalnut, cane
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 52 3/8 x 25 7/8 x 26in. (133 x 65.7 x 66cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Daniel Wadsworth, Esq.
Object number1844.69.1
DescriptionWalnut armchair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with an elaborately arched and molded crest rail, a cane back and seat, a carved front stretcher, and turned legs and stretchers. The back of the chair is formed by an arched and molded crest rail atop two stiles. The crest rail has a flat section at the top; to each side, it descends into a projecting quarter circle, a fillet, or horizontal area, and a recessed quarter circle that ends in a point that extends past the stile. The top of each stile extends out to meet the crest rail, then curves inward. Below the crest rail is a woven cane panel which attaches at the bottom to the shaped stay rail. The shape of the stay rail conforms to the shape of the crest rail, but is inverted. The crest rail, stay rail, and each stile have a molded front, consisting of a projecting half circle, or astragal, and a recessed half circle, or cove. Above the seat, each stile angles backward. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that curves back, over a turned ball foot. Each arm is bowed down in the center and has an elaborately scrolled handhold that extends well past the top of the front leg. The top surface of each arm has a raised ridge. Each front leg is turned with ribbed and flared cones (the flared edges now missing), blocks, and baluster forms over a Spanish foot (portions missing). Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm. The chair has a trapezoidal cane seat; the outside edges of the seat rails have astragal and cove molding. The front of the chair has an elaborately carved and pierced stretcher. The stretcher has a profile similar to the crest rail, and is carved with a symmetrical arrangement of deep C-scrolls. Each side of the chair has one turned stretcher, with a block in the center. The chair has a medial stretcher, connecting the two side stretchers at the block. The chair has a back stretcher, turned with a ring in the center.
Condition: Portions of the turnings on the front legs and feet are missing. The seat rails are replaced. There is a minor split in the wood on the top right side of the crest rail and on the back right foot. The legs and stretchers each have multiple insect holes. The frame is refinished, and the cane is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on each side by a tenon at the top of the stile. The outward curve at the top of each stile is constructed of extra wood that is laminated to the vertical stile. The stay rail is tenoned into the stiles. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned into the arm above. The furthest projecting portion of each ribbed and flared turned cone form was constructed of wood that was laminated to the main block of the leg (all but two sections now missing). Each front foot was constructed of wood that was laminated to the main block of the leg (front and sides of each front foot now missing). The front stretcher and the side stretchers are tenoned and pinned into the legs. The back stretcher and the medial stretcher are tenoned into the side stretchers.
Condition: Portions of the turnings on the front legs and feet are missing. The seat rails are replaced. There is a minor split in the wood on the top right side of the crest rail and on the back right foot. The legs and stretchers each have multiple insect holes. The frame is refinished, and the cane is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on each side by a tenon at the top of the stile. The outward curve at the top of each stile is constructed of extra wood that is laminated to the vertical stile. The stay rail is tenoned into the stiles. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned into the arm above. The furthest projecting portion of each ribbed and flared turned cone form was constructed of wood that was laminated to the main block of the leg (all but two sections now missing). Each front foot was constructed of wood that was laminated to the main block of the leg (front and sides of each front foot now missing). The front stretcher and the side stretchers are tenoned and pinned into the legs. The back stretcher and the medial stretcher are tenoned into the side stretchers.
Status
Not on view
Object/Object