Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Union Chair Co.
(American, 1849 - 1888)
Date1850-1870
MediumWood, green, black and brown paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 31 3/8 x 17 7/8 x 17 3/16in. (79.7 x 45.4 x 43.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of The Hitchcock Chair Co., Ltd.
Object number2004.24.6
DescriptionGreen painted side chair in the Empire, or late neoclassical, style, with an arched crest rail, or crown-top, a spindle-back, a plank seat, and tapered legs. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail atop six spindles. The crest rail, or crown-top, is arched in the center, with a downward scroll at each side. The side spindles are thicker than the four slender spindles in the center; these are slanted back and joined to the chair in a curve so the side spindles are furthest forward on the seat. The plank, or solid, seat is balloon shaped and has a chamfered, or slanted, lower front and side edge. Below the seat are four turned and raked, or slanted out from top to bottom, legs each over a tapered foot; there are three evenly spaced, incised bands in each front leg. Each side of the chair has a single plain, turned stretcher that joins the lower legs; there are two evenly spaced, incised bands in the front stretcher.
Painted Decoration: The chair has an overall green painted surface. The crest rail has a stenciled pattern of grapes and leaves, flanked by a small flower, in dark green and brown paint. The crest rail is outlined with a thin band of black paint, and a wider band of brown paint at the edge. The seat is outlined with a thin band of black paint as well. Each spindle has three narrow, evenly spaced, black bands; the top band on each side spindle consists of two lines. Each front leg has a black band painted inside the incised band. The front stretcher has a black band inside each of the two incised bands, and a horizontal line between.
Condition: The paint is worn at the edges of the crest rail and seat and on the lower legs; there is wear and dirt accumulation to the paint overall. A large sliver of wood is missing from the back of the front stretcher. A larger piece of wood is missing from the back of the front left leg; the break in the wood is painted over.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each spindle. The bottom of each side spindle is tenoned down through the plank seat. The bottom of each of the four slender spindles is tenoned down into the seat. Circular saw marks are visible on the underside of the solid board that forms the seat. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs. All tenons are inserted at an angle, where necessary, to give the proper slant to each of the spindles and legs.
Painted Decoration: The chair has an overall green painted surface. The crest rail has a stenciled pattern of grapes and leaves, flanked by a small flower, in dark green and brown paint. The crest rail is outlined with a thin band of black paint, and a wider band of brown paint at the edge. The seat is outlined with a thin band of black paint as well. Each spindle has three narrow, evenly spaced, black bands; the top band on each side spindle consists of two lines. Each front leg has a black band painted inside the incised band. The front stretcher has a black band inside each of the two incised bands, and a horizontal line between.
Condition: The paint is worn at the edges of the crest rail and seat and on the lower legs; there is wear and dirt accumulation to the paint overall. A large sliver of wood is missing from the back of the front stretcher. A larger piece of wood is missing from the back of the front left leg; the break in the wood is painted over.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each spindle. The bottom of each side spindle is tenoned down through the plank seat. The bottom of each of the four slender spindles is tenoned down into the seat. Circular saw marks are visible on the underside of the solid board that forms the seat. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs. All tenons are inserted at an angle, where necessary, to give the proper slant to each of the spindles and legs.
Status
Not on view
