Armchair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Churchill family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
ConservatorConserved by
Robbins Brothers
(American, 1878 - 1932)
Date1750-1775
MediumMaple, tulip poplar, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 46 1/2 x 23 3/4 x 18in. (118.1 x 60.3 x 45.7cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1143
DescriptionMaple armchair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a shaped crest rail, a banister-back, turned stiles, legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by a solid crest rail at the top between two stiles; each stile has a turned urn-shaped finial at the top. The crest rail has a shaped upper edge, consisting of two raised half circles in the middle, with a fillet, or short horizontal, a recessed half circle, a raised spur, and a recessed quarter circle to each side. Below the crest rail are four baluster-and-reel turned banisters, which attach at the bottom to the stay rail. The banisters are turned and split; the rounded side of each banister faces the back of the chair. The stay rail is taller in the center, because the lower edge curves up at each side. Below the seat, each stile forms a straight back leg and foot. Each front leg supports a serpentine arm that is bowed down in the center. Each arm has a small, scrolled handhold that extends past the top of the front leg. Each front leg is turned with a baluster over three cylinders, each separated by a ring. The chair has a woven rush seat. The front of the chair has two stretchers turned with baluster-and-ring turned forms. Each side of the chair has two plain stretchers. The back has one plain stretcher.
Condition: The wood on the left front leg is repaired below the handhold and on the lower portion of the leg. The wood on the right stile is repaired on the outside of the baluster. There are minor scratches and points of wear on all the turned portions of each stile and leg. The rush seat is replaced. Each foot is replaced. The chair is refinished with a mahoganized finish.
Design and Construction Details: Each end of the crest rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the cylindrical section at the top of the stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Each banister is constructed of a split spindle; each banister is tenoned into the crest rail at the top and into the stay rail at the bottom. The back lower edge of the stay rail is chamfered. Each end of the stay rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the arm above. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Condition: The wood on the left front leg is repaired below the handhold and on the lower portion of the leg. The wood on the right stile is repaired on the outside of the baluster. There are minor scratches and points of wear on all the turned portions of each stile and leg. The rush seat is replaced. Each foot is replaced. The chair is refinished with a mahoganized finish.
Design and Construction Details: Each end of the crest rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the cylindrical section at the top of the stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Each banister is constructed of a split spindle; each banister is tenoned into the crest rail at the top and into the stay rail at the bottom. The back lower edge of the stay rail is chamfered. Each end of the stay rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the arm above. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Status
Not on view
