Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1740-1780
MediumMaple primary wood, ash secondary wood
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 42 1/2 x 20 3/8 x 17 1/2in. (108 x 51.8 x 44.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Howard B. Haylett
Object number1973.42.1
DescriptionMaple side chair in the Queen Anne, or late baroque style, with a yoke-shaped crest rail, a vase-shaped splat, a rush seat, and turned stretchers and front legs. The back of the chair is formed by a yoke-shaped crest rail atop two stiles. Centered below the crest rail is a solid, vase-shaped splat, which attaches at the bottom to the stay rail. The bottom front edge of the stay rail is molded with a cyma curve, or S-curve. Above the seat, each stile angles backward slightly. Below the seat, each stile forms a straight leg with a foot that flares back slightly. Each front leg is turned with a sequence of baluster, block, baluster, block, over a deeply curved Spanish foot. Above the top turned baluster, each front leg has a block that supports the rails of the rush seat, which is trapezoidal in shape. The front stretcher connecting the front legs is turned with a double-baluster-and-ring form. Each side has two stretchers; the top stretcher is turned with a double-baluster-and-ring form, while the bottom stretcher is turned with a double-baluster form. The back has a single stretcher turned with a double-baluster form.
Painted Decoration (later addition). The frame is painted black overall, with gold highlights on the crest rail, the upper stiles, the splat, the stay rail, the front legs and the front and side stretchers.
Condition: The back edges of the front left foot are replaced. The frame is re-painted, and the rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by tenons at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The back edges of the splat and each stile are chamfered. The stay rail is tenoned into each stile. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails have round tenons that extend into the stiles at the back, and into the separate block at the top of each leg in the front. The stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Painted Decoration (later addition). The frame is painted black overall, with gold highlights on the crest rail, the upper stiles, the splat, the stay rail, the front legs and the front and side stretchers.
Condition: The back edges of the front left foot are replaced. The frame is re-painted, and the rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by tenons at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The back edges of the splat and each stile are chamfered. The stay rail is tenoned into each stile. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails have round tenons that extend into the stiles at the back, and into the separate block at the top of each leg in the front. The stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Status
Not on view
