Armchair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Beardsley family
American
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1725-1750
MediumMaple, possibly cherry, and rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 46 x 24 7/16 x 20 1/2in. (116.8 x 62.1 x 52.1cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Lattin
DescriptionMaple armchair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with an arched crest rail, a banister-back, turned stiles, banisters, front legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by a crest rail at the top between two turned stiles; each stile has a ball-and-urn finial at the top. The top of the crest rail is shaped with a high arch in the center, with a small recessed half circle and a small spur to each side. The bottom of the crest rail is shaped with a raised half circle in the center that conforms to the shape of the arch at the top. Below the crest rail are four cone-and-reel turned banisters, two on each side of the arch, which attach at the bottom to the stay rail. The banisters are turned and split; the rounded side of each banister faces the back of the chair. Above the seat, each stile is angled backward and is turned with cone-and-reel forms. Below the seat, each stile forms a straight back leg and foot. Each arm is bowed down in the center and has a scrolled handhold that extends past the top of each front leg. Each front leg is turned with a baluster over three blocks, each separated by an ovoid turning, over a small, turned foot. Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm. The chair has a trapezoidal rush seat. The front of the chair has a single stretcher turned with large double-baluster forms. Each side has two plain turned stretchers. The back has one plain turned stretcher.
Condition: The banister to the left of center is replaced. The front legs and the top of the front stretcher are worn and scratched. The chair is refinished, and the rush seat is varnished.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail has a rectangular tenon at each side that extends into the block near the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Each banister is constructed of a split spindle; each banister is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail has a rectangular tenon at each side that extends into the stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the arm above. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Condition: The banister to the left of center is replaced. The front legs and the top of the front stretcher are worn and scratched. The chair is refinished, and the rush seat is varnished.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail has a rectangular tenon at each side that extends into the block near the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin through the back. Each banister is constructed of a split spindle; each banister is tenoned into the crest rail above and into the stay rail below. The stay rail has a rectangular tenon at each side that extends into the stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the arm above. Each seat rail is bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs.
Object number1968.10.1
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