Armchair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Churchill family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1730-1770
MediumOak and various woods, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 48 1/2 x 22 1/4 x 18 1/2in. (123.2 x 56.5 x 47cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1141
DescriptionArmchair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a slat-back, turned stiles, front legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the armchair is formed by five horizontal slats between two turned stiles. Each stile has a ball and ring form finial at the top, over alternating cylinder and ring forms. The slats are curved back in the center and are of slightly varying heights. Each slat has a shaped top edge that is horizontal in the center and tapers down at the sides. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg. Each arm bows down in the center and has a scrolled handhold that extends past the top of the front leg. Each front leg is turned with two balusters separated by a ring, over three cylindrical forms, each separated by a ring, over a plain foot. Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm. The chair has a trapezoidal rush seat. Each side of the chair has a turned stretcher below the arm and above the rush seat, that connects the upper portion of the front leg to the stile at the back. Each of these stretchers is turned with narrow ball and ring forms. The front and the sides of the chair each have two stretchers; these are turned with ovoid forms. The back of the chair has a plain turned stretcher.
Condition: The two front stretchers are replaced; the top front stretcher has a gouge missing from the wood to the right of center. The stiles and front leg posts have multiple small insect holes. All four feet are replaced. Small portions of the rush at the front and left side have broken off of the seat rails. The frame is refinished, and the rush is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into the top of each stile; the square wooden pins extend only through the back of the stile. The slats below are tenoned into each stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile; the pins are wooden and square. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned through the handhold above. The seat rails are probably cylindrical and are tenoned into the stiles at the back and into the legs at the front. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs. Faint grooves circling the stiles and legs mark the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Condition: The two front stretchers are replaced; the top front stretcher has a gouge missing from the wood to the right of center. The stiles and front leg posts have multiple small insect holes. All four feet are replaced. Small portions of the rush at the front and left side have broken off of the seat rails. The frame is refinished, and the rush is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into the top of each stile; the square wooden pins extend only through the back of the stile. The slats below are tenoned into each stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile; the pins are wooden and square. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned through the handhold above. The seat rails are probably cylindrical and are tenoned into the stiles at the back and into the legs at the front. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs. Faint grooves circling the stiles and legs mark the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Status
Not on view
