Armchair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Governor John Winthrop Jr.
(Anglo-American, 1606 - 1676)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1660-1675
MediumRed Oak
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 44 1/4 x 26 3/4 x 19 1/4in. (112.4 x 67.9 x 48.9cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Object number1964.89.1
DescriptionJoined red oak armchair in the seventeenth-century style, with a carved panel in the back, turned arm supports and front legs, and a board seat. The back of the chair consists of a rail over a raised panel over a rail, all between two stiles. The top rail is carved with seven recessed arches, or flutes, each flanked by a recessed circle over a recessed channel; above each flute is an incised arch. The raised panel is carved with a central seven-petal flower inside a recessed circle, surrounded by three concentric incised circles. This is surrounded by eight similar seven-petal flowers, and an additional seven-petal flower at each corner of the panel. The edges of the panel are recessed; the transitions from the raised to the recessed edge of the panel are molded. Below the panel is a rail with a band of horizontal molding consisting of recessed circles with a semi-circular incised line above and below. Above the seat, each stile has a molded front and slants backward. Below the seat, each stile forms a straight back leg. Each arm has a pronounced downward curve in the top edge, and ends in a scrolled handhold that extends past the top of the front leg. The underside of each arm has a sharp notch at the back. Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm, then below the seat extends down to the floor; each is turned with block, ring and baluster forms, over a block foot. The trapezoidal seat consists of a single board with square holes cut at the front corners to accommodate the arm supports and front legs. The board has thumbnail, or ovolo, molding at each the front side edges, and rests on top of the front and side seat rails. The seat rails have the same incised molding as the rail below the back panel, above a cyma, or S-curve, molding. Each side of the chair has a single rectangular stretcher with molding connecting the lower legs; the front of the front and back stretcher are molded while the outer side of each side stretcher is molded.
Condition: The chair is missing an elaborate crest rail; there are holes in the top of the stiles and present top rail. Iron brackets have been screwed to the interior corners of the seat to reinforce the joints. Some joints have had an extra pin or pins added, specifically where the arms meet the stiles, where the side seat rails meet the stiles, where the lower rail meets the stiles, and on the stretchers. Nails have been added to the seat, where it meets the left seat rail and the lower back rail. The side of the front left leg has been repaired, where the seat rails meet the leg. The chair has an old but not original finish.
Design and Construction Details: The chair is joined with panel-and-frame construction and has turned front legs. The rails and panel on the back of the chair slide into grooves on the interior side of each upper stile; the rails are tenoned and double pinned to the stiles. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned to the stile. The front of each arm rests on a tenon at the top of the arm support; this joint is secured with a wooden pin. The seat is pinned with square wooden pins to the top of the front and side seat rails; each front corner of the seat has a square hole to accommodate the arm rest and top of the front leg. Each side seat rail is tenoned and double pinned into the stile in the back and into the front leg. The front seat rail is tenoned and double pinned into the front legs. Each stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower legs.
Condition: The chair is missing an elaborate crest rail; there are holes in the top of the stiles and present top rail. Iron brackets have been screwed to the interior corners of the seat to reinforce the joints. Some joints have had an extra pin or pins added, specifically where the arms meet the stiles, where the side seat rails meet the stiles, where the lower rail meets the stiles, and on the stretchers. Nails have been added to the seat, where it meets the left seat rail and the lower back rail. The side of the front left leg has been repaired, where the seat rails meet the leg. The chair has an old but not original finish.
Design and Construction Details: The chair is joined with panel-and-frame construction and has turned front legs. The rails and panel on the back of the chair slide into grooves on the interior side of each upper stile; the rails are tenoned and double pinned to the stiles. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned to the stile. The front of each arm rests on a tenon at the top of the arm support; this joint is secured with a wooden pin. The seat is pinned with square wooden pins to the top of the front and side seat rails; each front corner of the seat has a square hole to accommodate the arm rest and top of the front leg. Each side seat rail is tenoned and double pinned into the stile in the back and into the front leg. The front seat rail is tenoned and double pinned into the front legs. Each stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the lower legs.
Status
On view
