Close Stool
Furniture MakerMade by
Samuel Gorham
Date1840-1870
MediumPine, maple, black, red, green and gold paint, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 41 3/4 x 22 x 20 3/8in. (106 x 55.9 x 51.8cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1974.66.0
DescriptionPainted clothes-stool armchair in the Windsor style, with a rounded tablet-top crest rail, a plank seat with a lidded opening in the center over a square chamber, and turned arm supports and legs. The back of the chair is formed by a solid tablet-top crest rail atop six slender spindles and two plain, turned posts. The crest rail is bowed back in the center, and has curved upper corners and a bowed lower edge. The arms are scrolled, or bowed down in the center, with a downward curved handhold. Each arm is supported by a slender spindle and a turned arm support below the end of the handle. The seat is square with rounded corners and has a circular opening in the center, with a disc-shaped lid that fits in the opening. Below the seat are four straight legs, each with a rectangular block at the top over a tapered ankle and foot. The legs are raked slightly, or tilted out from top to bottom. Each legs forms a corner of the chamber below the seat that would have contained a chamber pot or pan. The right side of the chamber pivots open on two iron hinges at the bottom. Each side of the chair has a single plain, turned stretcher.
Painted Decoration. The chair is painted black with red arms. The crest rail has a stenciled design of fruit and flowers in the center inside an oval, geometric gold border. At each side is a smaller floral design inside an oval border. The front edges of the crest rail are painted with a gold border. Each spindle, post and arm support has gold-painted bands. The top of the seat is painted with a swagged gold line. The front edge of the seat has a gold line with an arrow at each end. The front of the rectangular form on each front leg has an abstract design of intersecting lines. The front board of the chamber is painted with a gold square with inward curved sides and embellishments at each corner.
Condition: The paint is worn on the top and front of the seat, and the front of the chamber. A rectangular piece of wood has been removed from the bottom right front edge of the chamber. The crest rail, seat, and lid have numerous drips of light grey paint.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each spindle and post. The back of each arm is screwed into the post; the front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the spindle and the top of the arm support. The spindles are tenoned down into the seat, while the posts and arm supports are each tenoned down through the seat. The circular opening in the seat has rounded edges. The lid is constructed of a single round piece of wood with canted top sides and cylindrical lower sides. Two cylindrical holes are drilled into the top of the lid; the holes do not extend completely through the lid. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The front, back and left side of the chamber are constructed of thin boards that slide into vertical grooves on the sides of the rectangular block at the top half of each leg. The right lower side of the chamber has a rail that slides into horizontal grooves on the interior sides of the right legs. The door is constructed of a board that swings open on hinges that are joined to this rail. The sides of the right legs are rabbeted to accommodate the door when closed. The bottom of the chamber is constructed of a single board that is held in place with nails through the lower front, back and left side boards of the chamber. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs.
NotesHistorical Note: The 1886 Connecticut Business Directory lists Samuel Gorham as an undertaker and furniture maker in Westport, Connecticut.Painted Decoration. The chair is painted black with red arms. The crest rail has a stenciled design of fruit and flowers in the center inside an oval, geometric gold border. At each side is a smaller floral design inside an oval border. The front edges of the crest rail are painted with a gold border. Each spindle, post and arm support has gold-painted bands. The top of the seat is painted with a swagged gold line. The front edge of the seat has a gold line with an arrow at each end. The front of the rectangular form on each front leg has an abstract design of intersecting lines. The front board of the chamber is painted with a gold square with inward curved sides and embellishments at each corner.
Condition: The paint is worn on the top and front of the seat, and the front of the chamber. A rectangular piece of wood has been removed from the bottom right front edge of the chamber. The crest rail, seat, and lid have numerous drips of light grey paint.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each spindle and post. The back of each arm is screwed into the post; the front of each arm is supported on a tenon at the top of the spindle and the top of the arm support. The spindles are tenoned down into the seat, while the posts and arm supports are each tenoned down through the seat. The circular opening in the seat has rounded edges. The lid is constructed of a single round piece of wood with canted top sides and cylindrical lower sides. Two cylindrical holes are drilled into the top of the lid; the holes do not extend completely through the lid. The seat is supported on a tenon at the top of each leg. The front, back and left side of the chamber are constructed of thin boards that slide into vertical grooves on the sides of the rectangular block at the top half of each leg. The right lower side of the chamber has a rail that slides into horizontal grooves on the interior sides of the right legs. The door is constructed of a board that swings open on hinges that are joined to this rail. The sides of the right legs are rabbeted to accommodate the door when closed. The bottom of the chamber is constructed of a single board that is held in place with nails through the lower front, back and left side boards of the chamber. The stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs.
Status
Not on view
