Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
State of Connecticut
(American)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1740-1780
MediumMaple, leather, linen, grass stuffing, brass nails
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 40 1/4 x 21 7/8 x 21 3/4in. (102.2 x 55.6 x 55.2cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Newton L. Lockwood
Object number1964.50.2
DescriptionMaple side chair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a horizontal crest rail, a leather upholstered back panel, and over-the-rails leather upholstery on the seat. The back of the chair is formed by a flat crest rail atop two stiles. The top front edge of the crest rail is chamfered. Centered below the crest rail are two vertical supports that extend from the crest rail down to the stay rail. Between these supports, the back of the seat is upholstered with brown leather. The leather is joined to the chair with two rows of brass nails on the crest rail, and a single row of brass nails on each support and on the stay rail. Above the seat, each stile is slanted back. Below the seat, each stile extends down to form a straight back leg. The seat is trapezoidal, with over-the-rails leather upholstery that is joined to the chair frame with a row of brass tacks along the side and front seat rails. The front legs are straight. All four sides of the chair have one rectangular stretcher connecting the legs.
Condition: The brown leather upholstery is original, but it is cracked and worn on both the back and the seat. Two large areas of the seat have been patched with additional leather that is sewn in place. Portions of the leather, the undercover, and the sacking are missing from the front edge of the seat. Five brass tacks are missing from the front and left seat rail. The non-leather portions of the upholstery on the seat have been repaired; the webbing was sewn in place, and the sacking and undercover were sewn together. The underside of each seat rail has a row of tack holes. The lower portion of the legs and the stretchers are scratched and worn.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by a tenon at the top of each stile. The vertical supports are tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail is joined to each stile with a rectangular tenon. The upholstery on the back of the seat consists of brown leather secured with brass nails, over a linen undercover, stuffing, and sacking that is tacked directly to the chair frame. The seat rails are tenoned and pinned into the stiles and front legs. The upholstery on the seat consists of over-the-rails brown leather (patched in two areas) that is secured with brass nails, over a linen undercover that is nailed to the seat frame, grass stuffing, sackcloth, and webbing that is also nailed to the seat frame. The stretchers are each tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the legs.
Condition: The brown leather upholstery is original, but it is cracked and worn on both the back and the seat. Two large areas of the seat have been patched with additional leather that is sewn in place. Portions of the leather, the undercover, and the sacking are missing from the front edge of the seat. Five brass tacks are missing from the front and left seat rail. The non-leather portions of the upholstery on the seat have been repaired; the webbing was sewn in place, and the sacking and undercover were sewn together. The underside of each seat rail has a row of tack holes. The lower portion of the legs and the stretchers are scratched and worn.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by a tenon at the top of each stile. The vertical supports are tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail is joined to each stile with a rectangular tenon. The upholstery on the back of the seat consists of brown leather secured with brass nails, over a linen undercover, stuffing, and sacking that is tacked directly to the chair frame. The seat rails are tenoned and pinned into the stiles and front legs. The upholstery on the seat consists of over-the-rails brown leather (patched in two areas) that is secured with brass nails, over a linen undercover that is nailed to the seat frame, grass stuffing, sackcloth, and webbing that is also nailed to the seat frame. The stretchers are each tenoned and pinned into the lower portion of the legs.
Status
Not on view
