Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Hannah Grant
(American, 1749 - 1830)
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Honorable Stephen Mix Mitchell
(American, 1743 - 1835)
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
ConservatorUpholstery conserved by
Robert F. Trent
(American)
Dateabout 1769
MediumCherry and maple
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 37 7/8 x 21 1/4 x 20 1/2in. (96.2 x 54 x 52.1cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Crabtree III
Object number1987.59.0
DescriptionCherry and maple side chair in the Chippendale, or rococo, style, with a scalloped crest rail, a pierced splat, straight front legs, and a removable upholstered slip seat. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail atop two stiles, each with a line of beading down the exterior front side. The crest rail has an arch in the center, with a cyma curve, or S-curve, to either side, and an ear at each end. The top edge of the crest rail is outlined with beading. Centered below the crest rail is a vase-shaped splat, with a Gothic-style pattern of pierced 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 slightly. Below the seat, each stile forms a back leg that is slanted back and toward the center. The seat is trapezoidal, with a removable slip seat upholstered with blue and white checked linen. 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. Each side and the back of the chair has a plain, rectangular stretcher connecting the legs. A medial stretcher connects the two side stretchers.
Condition: The lower third of the front and side seat rails have each been resurfaced to hide tack holes from later over-the-rails upholstery. Triangular corner blocks have been screwed into the interior corners of the seat frame. An additional nail or wooden pin has been added to the joint at each end of each side seat rail. The finish has been cleaned and refurbished. The upholstery is replaced.
Design and Construction Details:
Design. The top edge of the side and front seat rails, the top of each leg, and the exterior corner of each front leg has 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 of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the splat shoe below. The splat shoe is nailed down on top of the back seat rail. All four seat rails are tenoned and double pinned into the top of the legs. The top interior edge of each front and side seat rail, and the top of each front leg, has a rabbet to support the slip seat. Below the seat, the interior corner of each leg is canted. The back and side stretchers are tenoned and double pinned into the lower chair legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side stretchers.
Upholstered Slip Seat. The chair has a removable, upholstered slip seat (original frame with replaced upholstery materials). The slip seat consists of blue and white checked linen over a linen undercover, stuffing, sackcloth, canvas webbing, and a wooden frame. The blue and white checked linen is tacked to the underside of the frame with small nails.
Condition: The lower third of the front and side seat rails have each been resurfaced to hide tack holes from later over-the-rails upholstery. Triangular corner blocks have been screwed into the interior corners of the seat frame. An additional nail or wooden pin has been added to the joint at each end of each side seat rail. The finish has been cleaned and refurbished. The upholstery is replaced.
Design and Construction Details:
Design. The top edge of the side and front seat rails, the top of each leg, and the exterior corner of each front leg has 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 of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Above the seat, the back of each stile is rounded. The splat is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the splat shoe below. The splat shoe is nailed down on top of the back seat rail. All four seat rails are tenoned and double pinned into the top of the legs. The top interior edge of each front and side seat rail, and the top of each front leg, has a rabbet to support the slip seat. Below the seat, the interior corner of each leg is canted. The back and side stretchers are tenoned and double pinned into the lower chair legs. The medial stretcher is dovetailed into the side stretchers.
Upholstered Slip Seat. The chair has a removable, upholstered slip seat (original frame with replaced upholstery materials). The slip seat consists of blue and white checked linen over a linen undercover, stuffing, sackcloth, canvas webbing, and a wooden frame. The blue and white checked linen is tacked to the underside of the frame with small nails.
Status
Not on view
