Rocking Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Union Chair Co.
(American, 1849 - 1888)
Date1850-1870
MediumWood, black, gold, red, brown, yellow and green paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 40 1/4 x 21 5/8 x 26 1/2in. (102.2 x 54.9 x 67.3cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Lucia M. Sweeton
Object number1964.46.0
DescriptionPainted rocking armchair in the Windsor style, with a crown top, turned posts and legs, and a scroll seat. The back of the chair is formed by a crown-top crest rail at the top over two posts separated by six spindles. The crown-top crest rail consists of a central trapezoidal tablet flanked by a flat, downward turned scroll. Each arm is scrolled, with a downward curve in the center and a scrolled handhold. Each arm is supported by a spindle and a thicker arm support at the front. The square seat is scrolled, consisting of a rectangular plank with a recessed center surface, and a downward scroll at the front and a raised curve at the back that supports the spindles. The scroll seat is supported by four turned legs; the front legs are turned with cylinder and ring forms. Each side of the chair has a single stretcher connecting the legs; the front legs are connected with ring and tapered forms. Each side of the chair has a curved rocker connecting the feet.
Painted Decoration. The chair is painted black superimposed with fine straight and wavy red lines to imitate grained wood. The crest rail is stenciled with a gold basket containing flowers and fruit, inside a gold border; each scroll on the crest rail have gilded leaves at the edge. The posts each have a wide band of gold above the arm; the spindles and arm supports are decorated with fine gold lines. The top front edge of the seat is decorated with gold and brown stylized leaves. The turnings on the front legs and front stretcher are decorated with gold bands.
Condition: The scroll at the front of the seat has been repaired or re-attached. The area where the left scroll joints the tablet on the crest rail has been repaired. The lower right side of the tablet on the crest rail is replaced. The paint is worn on the arms and the handholds. The paint is scratched and nicked along the front edge of the seat.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each post and each spindle. The arms are probably screwed into the posts at the back and supported on a tenon at the top of the spindle, and the arm support at the front. The spindles are tenoned down into the seat. The posts and arm supports are tenoned down through the seat. The seat is constructed of a rectangular plank of wood with a saucered, or recessed, top surface, an upturned back edge and a down turned front edge; this has circular saw marks on the bottom. The front scroll is constructed by a horizontal scroll that is screwed to the underside of the front edge. The curved back of the seat is constructed of a panel of wood that is joined to the back edge of the seat. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each of the four legs. The stretchers are noned into the lower legs. The rockers are inserted into grooves on the bottom of the feet.
Painted Decoration. The chair is painted black superimposed with fine straight and wavy red lines to imitate grained wood. The crest rail is stenciled with a gold basket containing flowers and fruit, inside a gold border; each scroll on the crest rail have gilded leaves at the edge. The posts each have a wide band of gold above the arm; the spindles and arm supports are decorated with fine gold lines. The top front edge of the seat is decorated with gold and brown stylized leaves. The turnings on the front legs and front stretcher are decorated with gold bands.
Condition: The scroll at the front of the seat has been repaired or re-attached. The area where the left scroll joints the tablet on the crest rail has been repaired. The lower right side of the tablet on the crest rail is replaced. The paint is worn on the arms and the handholds. The paint is scratched and nicked along the front edge of the seat.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each post and each spindle. The arms are probably screwed into the posts at the back and supported on a tenon at the top of the spindle, and the arm support at the front. The spindles are tenoned down into the seat. The posts and arm supports are tenoned down through the seat. The seat is constructed of a rectangular plank of wood with a saucered, or recessed, top surface, an upturned back edge and a down turned front edge; this has circular saw marks on the bottom. The front scroll is constructed by a horizontal scroll that is screwed to the underside of the front edge. The curved back of the seat is constructed of a panel of wood that is joined to the back edge of the seat. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each of the four legs. The stretchers are noned into the lower legs. The rockers are inserted into grooves on the bottom of the feet.
Status
Not on view
