Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1780-1800
MediumCherry, hard maple, brass hardware, yellow moreen wool
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 38 15/16 x 20 7/8 x 18 13/16in. (98.9 x 53 x 47.8cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1986.9.0
DescriptionCherry side chair in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with a scalloped crest rail, a pierced vase-shaped splat, straight front legs, and over-the-rails upholstery. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail atop two stiles. The crest rail has an arched section in the center, both at the top and bottom edge, flanked by a cyma curved, or S-curved, section, and a fluted ear at each end. Centered below the crest rail is a flat, pierced, vase-shaped splat, with interlocking ribbons of wood creating a symmetrical pattern of C-scrolls and elongated openings. The splat is joined at the bottom to a tapered splat shoe, just above the back seat rail. Above the seat, each stile is slanted back. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg which is slanted back, over a backward-slanting foot. The lower legs are slanted toward the center back of the chair. The seat is trapezoidal, with over-the-rails yellow moreen wool upholstery (replaced). The upholstery is secured with a straight line of brass nails along the bottom front edge of each seat rail. The front legs are straight; they extend from the height of the seat down to a plain foot. Both sides and the back of the chair each have a plain, rectangular stretcher connecting the legs. A medial stretcher connects the two side stretchers.
Condition: The upholstery and brass nails are replaced; the brass nails follow the original pattern of nail holes. The interior upper edge of the back seat rail is repaired. The finish is restored.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the back seat rail below. The splat shoe is nailed down onto the back seat rail; it has a cut-out in the back to accommodate the bottom of the splat. Each seat rail is tenoned into the top of the legs. The back and side stretchers are each tenoned into the lower portion of the legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side seat rails. The interior corner of each leg is canted.
Upholstery (replaced). The chair is upholstered with yellow moreen wool that is held in place over the rails with a single row of brass nails (replaced) at the lower front edge of the front and side seat rails; the replacement nails follow the original nail holes. Additional tacks that hold the upholstery in place are located on the underside of the front and side seat rails. Below the yellow wool is stuffing, sackcloth, and canvas webbing.
Condition: The upholstery and brass nails are replaced; the brass nails follow the original pattern of nail holes. The interior upper edge of the back seat rail is repaired. The finish is restored.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported on a tenon at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the back seat rail below. The splat shoe is nailed down onto the back seat rail; it has a cut-out in the back to accommodate the bottom of the splat. Each seat rail is tenoned into the top of the legs. The back and side stretchers are each tenoned into the lower portion of the legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side seat rails. The interior corner of each leg is canted.
Upholstery (replaced). The chair is upholstered with yellow moreen wool that is held in place over the rails with a single row of brass nails (replaced) at the lower front edge of the front and side seat rails; the replacement nails follow the original nail holes. Additional tacks that hold the upholstery in place are located on the underside of the front and side seat rails. Below the yellow wool is stuffing, sackcloth, and canvas webbing.
Status
Not on view
