Side Chairs
Furniture MakerMade by
Lambert Hitchcock
(American, 1795 - 1852)
Date1825-1832
MediumMaple, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth of side chair .2): 34 7/8 x 17 9/16 x 18 7/8in. (88.6 x 44.6 x 47.9cm)
Primary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth of side chair .3): 34 5/16 x 17 1/2 x 20 13/16in. (87.2 x 44.5 x 52.9cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of The Hitchcock Chair Co., Ltd.
Object number2004.24.2-.3
DescriptionPair of painted side chairs in the Empire, or late neoclassical, style, with a crown-type crest rail, a pierced slat-back, turned front legs and front stretcher, and a trapezoidal rush seat. The back of each chair is formed by a crown-type crest rail atop two stiles. The crest rail is formed from a solid, arched board with a low raised section at the top edge and a large down turned scroll at each side. Below the crest rail, a slat joins the two stiles. The slat consists of a solid center section with a slight arch at the top center edge, flanked by two discs that join the center section to the stile at each side. Both the crest rail and slat are bowed back slightly in the center. Above the seat, each stile is curved back (side chair .3 has a steeper curve than side chair .2) 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 front leg has a block on top that supports the front corners of the trapezoidal rush seat. The rush seat sits just inside four seat rail facings that cover all four sides of the rush. 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. Each front leg is turned with baluster, ring, and tapered forms. The front of the chair has a single stretcher turned with ring and short baluster forms that connects 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.
Painted Decoration. The frame of each chair is painted black with gold bands outlining the turned rings on the stiles, front legs, and front stretcher. Each crest rail has stenciled gilt decoration consisting of a bowl containing two pieces of fruit flanked by a cornucopia, grapes and a large curling leaf. The front of each splat has stenciled gilt decoration consisting of a basket of fruit in the center surrounded by grapes, flowers, and leaves. The front of each upper stile and the front seat rail facing has the same abstract geometric and floral gilt stenciled decoration.
Condition. The black and gold painted decoration is flaking over all the surfaces of each chair frame, with only limited flaking on front of the crest rail and slat. The black paint is worn on the upper and lower edges of both the crest rail and stile on each chair, the top of the front seat rail facing, and the top of each front stretcher. The left seat rail facing on side chair .2 is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail sits in a shallow rabbit at the top of each stile; it is nailed in place from behind. Each slat is tenoned into the upper stiles. The seat is constructed of four hidden seat rails that are tenoned into a block at each corner of the seat. The blocks at the front of the seat are supported on a tenon at the top of the front legs. The blocks at the back of the seat are tenoned into the top of the back legs; there are nails through the back legs to secure this joint. The rush is woven around this frame. The seat rail facings are nailed in place over the hidden seat rails on all four sides of the seat. The stretchers are tenoned into the legs.
Painted Decoration. The frame of each chair is painted black with gold bands outlining the turned rings on the stiles, front legs, and front stretcher. Each crest rail has stenciled gilt decoration consisting of a bowl containing two pieces of fruit flanked by a cornucopia, grapes and a large curling leaf. The front of each splat has stenciled gilt decoration consisting of a basket of fruit in the center surrounded by grapes, flowers, and leaves. The front of each upper stile and the front seat rail facing has the same abstract geometric and floral gilt stenciled decoration.
Condition. The black and gold painted decoration is flaking over all the surfaces of each chair frame, with only limited flaking on front of the crest rail and slat. The black paint is worn on the upper and lower edges of both the crest rail and stile on each chair, the top of the front seat rail facing, and the top of each front stretcher. The left seat rail facing on side chair .2 is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail sits in a shallow rabbit at the top of each stile; it is nailed in place from behind. Each slat is tenoned into the upper stiles. The seat is constructed of four hidden seat rails that are tenoned into a block at each corner of the seat. The blocks at the front of the seat are supported on a tenon at the top of the front legs. The blocks at the back of the seat are tenoned into the top of the back legs; there are nails through the back legs to secure this joint. The rush is woven around this frame. The seat rail facings are nailed in place over the hidden seat rails on all four sides of the seat. The stretchers are tenoned into the legs.
Status
Not on view
