Armchair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1790-1820
MediumMaple, ash, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 40 7/8 x 19 x 17 3/4in. (103.8 x 48.3 x 45.1cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2004.66.0
DescriptionBlack painted armchair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a slat-back, one arm, turned stiles, front legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the armchair is formed by four 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 bowed back slightly in the center. The top slat (replaced) is rectangular; each slat below it has a shaped top edge consisting of a horizontal section in the center that curves down at each side. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg. The arm is bowed down slightly in the center and has a downward-curving handhold that extends past the top of the front leg. The handhold has two recessed lines across the center. Each front leg is turned with three cylinders, each separated by a ring, over a short, tapered foot. The left front leg extends up to form the support for the arm. The chair has a trapezoidal rush seat. All four sides of the chair have a plain turned stretcher connecting the lower portion of the legs. The back of the chair has a single plain, turned stretcher. The chair frame is painted black with painted gold lines and bands decorating the stiles, the three lower slats, the arms, the stretchers, and the front legs.
Condition: The top slat is replaced; the pins are replaced with nails. The lower portion of the back right leg has split where the back stretcher meets the leg. The chair has been repainted; the gold paint is faded on the arm and front legs. The paint is worn from the handhold. The lower portion of the front legs are worn and scratched. The top of the right front leg is worn. The rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into each stile; the slats below are tenoned into each stile. The back of the arm is tenoned into the left stile; the front of the arm is supported on a tenon and pin at the top of the left front leg. The right front leg is rounded on top. Each seat rail is probably bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front and back legs. The chair never had a right arm.
Condition: The top slat is replaced; the pins are replaced with nails. The lower portion of the back right leg has split where the back stretcher meets the leg. The chair has been repainted; the gold paint is faded on the arm and front legs. The paint is worn from the handhold. The lower portion of the front legs are worn and scratched. The top of the right front leg is worn. The rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into each stile; the slats below are tenoned into each stile. The back of the arm is tenoned into the left stile; the front of the arm is supported on a tenon and pin at the top of the left front leg. The right front leg is rounded on top. Each seat rail is probably bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front and back legs. The chair never had a right arm.
Status
Not on view
