Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Seymour family
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1770-1800
MediumCherry, linen, canvas, hair, and grass
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 37 13/16 x 20 x 18 5/8in. (96 x 50.8 x 47.3cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of Mary Clark
Object number1917.7.2a,b
DescriptionCherry side chair in the Chippendale style, with a scalloped crest rail, a pierced, vase-shaped splat, straight front legs, and a removable, upholstered slip seat. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail atop two stiles. The crest rail has an arch in the center, which is carved with crosshatching; this is flanked by a cyma curved, or S-curved, section, and a fluted ear at each end. Centered below the crest rail is a flat, pierced, vase-shaped splat, with interlocking ribbons of wood creating a symmetrical pattern of C-scrolls and S-scrolls. The splat is joined at the bottom to a tapered splat shoe, just above the back seat rail. Above the seat, each stile is slanted back. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that is slanted back, over a backward-slanting foot; the lower portion of each leg is slanted toward the center back of the chair. The seat is trapezoidal, with a removable slip seat. The slip seat sits just inside the four plain seat rails at the top of the legs. The front legs are straight; they extend from the height of the seat down to a plain foot. The front surface of each front leg has two wide flutes, or recessed panels. Both sides and the back of the chair each have a plain rectangular stretcher connecting the legs. A medial stretcher connects the two side stretchers.
Condition: The lower portion of the legs, the seat rails, the stretchers, and the splat are lightly scratched and well worn. Traces of the original finish may remain under the later oil finish currently on the frame. The slip seat frame, webbing, sackcloth, stuffing, and undercover are original; the top upholstered material is missing. The undercover is stained and worn through in several locations.
Design and Construction Details:
Chair Frame. The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The crosshatching on the center front of the crest rail extends down onto the top of the splat, which is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the splat shoe below. The splat shoe and the back seat rail are formed from the same solid piece of wood. The back and front seat rails are tenoned and pinned into the top of the legs. The side seat rails are tenoned and double pinned into the top of the legs. A rabbet on the interior top edge of the front and side seat rails, and on the top of each front leg, supports the slip seat. Each side and back stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers.
Upholstered Slip Seat (original). The chair is accompanied by a removable, upholstered slip seat (missing top layer of upholstery). The slip seat consists of a linen undercover (stained), original grass and hair stuffing, linen sackcloth, canvas webbing made of torn sail cloth, and a trapezoidal wooden frame. The linen undercover is held in place with nails on the underside of the frame.
Condition: The lower portion of the legs, the seat rails, the stretchers, and the splat are lightly scratched and well worn. Traces of the original finish may remain under the later oil finish currently on the frame. The slip seat frame, webbing, sackcloth, stuffing, and undercover are original; the top upholstered material is missing. The undercover is stained and worn through in several locations.
Design and Construction Details:
Chair Frame. The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The crosshatching on the center front of the crest rail extends down onto the top of the splat, which is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the splat shoe below. The splat shoe and the back seat rail are formed from the same solid piece of wood. The back and front seat rails are tenoned and pinned into the top of the legs. The side seat rails are tenoned and double pinned into the top of the legs. A rabbet on the interior top edge of the front and side seat rails, and on the top of each front leg, supports the slip seat. Each side and back stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers.
Upholstered Slip Seat (original). The chair is accompanied by a removable, upholstered slip seat (missing top layer of upholstery). The slip seat consists of a linen undercover (stained), original grass and hair stuffing, linen sackcloth, canvas webbing made of torn sail cloth, and a trapezoidal wooden frame. The linen undercover is held in place with nails on the underside of the frame.
Status
Not on view
