Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Daniel Sumner
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1780-1800
MediumCherry, maple, hair cloth
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 37 1/2 x 20 7/16 x 19in. (95.3 x 51.9 x 48.3cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1983.10.50a,b
DescriptionCherry side chair in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with an arched crest rail, a cross slat-back, straight front legs, and a removable upholstered slip seat. The back of the chair is formed by an arched crest rail atop two stiles. The crest rail is arched in the center, with a small spur on the underside center of the arch; at each end of the crest rail there is an upward-pointed spur over a rounded ear. Below the crest rail, there are two horizontal cross slats that extend between the stiles. Above the seat, each stile is slanted backward. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that is slanted toward the center back of the chair. The seat is trapezoidal, with a removable slip seat upholstered with black striped horsehair fabric. The slip seat sits just inside four plain seat rails at the top of the legs. The front legs are straight and extend from the height of the seat down to a plain foot. An open, semi-circular knee bracket is located at the top of each front leg, where the leg joins the front seat rail. All four sides of the chair have a plain, rectangular stretcher.
Condition: Corner blocks have been added to interior corners of the frame. The back of the right foot is replaced. The frame is refinished, and a reproduction slip seat has been made. The original slip seat is in poor condition, but it has all its original materials. The horsehair fabric cover of the original slip seat is split at several locations, and is well worn along the front edge. The linen undercover and stuffing are visible below the cover.
Design and Construction Details:
Design. A narrow rail at the top of the back seat rail has a triple-bead molded front edge. The top edge of the front and side seat rails, the top of each leg, the exterior corner of each front leg, and the top exterior edge of the back and side stretchers all have molding consisting of an ovolo flanked by a fillet.
Chair Frame: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile. Each slat is tenoned into the stiles. A narrow rail is nailed down on top of the back seat rail and overhangs it slightly. Each seat rail is tenoned and pinned into the top of the legs. The interior top edge of the front and side seat rails, and the top of each leg, each have a rabbet to support the slip seat. Each interior front corner of the frame has a triangular corner block screwed on (later additions). The knee brackets are nailed to the underside of the front seat rail and to the side of each front leg. Each stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the legs.
Upholstered Slip Seats. The chair is accompanied by two slip seats, one original, and one reproduction made to match the original. The original slip seat consists of a black striped horsehair fabric cover, over a linen undercover, marsh grass stuffing, sackcloth, cut canvas webbing, and a wooden frame. The horsehair fabric is nailed to the underside of the frame with small, iron nails. The reproduction slip seat consists of a black striped hair fabric cover, over an undercover, stuffing, sackcloth, webbing, and a trapezoidal frame. The hair fabric is tacked to the underside of the frame.
Condition: Corner blocks have been added to interior corners of the frame. The back of the right foot is replaced. The frame is refinished, and a reproduction slip seat has been made. The original slip seat is in poor condition, but it has all its original materials. The horsehair fabric cover of the original slip seat is split at several locations, and is well worn along the front edge. The linen undercover and stuffing are visible below the cover.
Design and Construction Details:
Design. A narrow rail at the top of the back seat rail has a triple-bead molded front edge. The top edge of the front and side seat rails, the top of each leg, the exterior corner of each front leg, and the top exterior edge of the back and side stretchers all have molding consisting of an ovolo flanked by a fillet.
Chair Frame: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile. Each slat is tenoned into the stiles. A narrow rail is nailed down on top of the back seat rail and overhangs it slightly. Each seat rail is tenoned and pinned into the top of the legs. The interior top edge of the front and side seat rails, and the top of each leg, each have a rabbet to support the slip seat. Each interior front corner of the frame has a triangular corner block screwed on (later additions). The knee brackets are nailed to the underside of the front seat rail and to the side of each front leg. Each stretcher is tenoned and pinned into the legs.
Upholstered Slip Seats. The chair is accompanied by two slip seats, one original, and one reproduction made to match the original. The original slip seat consists of a black striped horsehair fabric cover, over a linen undercover, marsh grass stuffing, sackcloth, cut canvas webbing, and a wooden frame. The horsehair fabric is nailed to the underside of the frame with small, iron nails. The reproduction slip seat consists of a black striped hair fabric cover, over an undercover, stuffing, sackcloth, webbing, and a trapezoidal frame. The hair fabric is tacked to the underside of the frame.
Status
Not on view
