Armchair
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Fanny Gaylord
American, 1801 - 1891
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Roderick Bissell
American, 1796 - 1875
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1820-1840
MediumMaple, ash, splint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 43 1/8 x 23 x 16 3/4in. (109.5 x 58.4 x 42.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of Roderick Bissell Jones
DescriptionMaple armchair with a slat-back, turned stiles and front legs, and a woven splint seat. The back of the armchair is formed by four horizontal slats between two cylindrical styles; each stile has an urn-shaped finial at the top. Each slat is curved back in the center and has an arched top edge. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg. Each arm is straight and has a scrolled handhold that extends well past the top of the front leg. The upper one-third of each front leg is turned with a baluster form; the remainder of the leg is cylindrical. Above the seat, each front leg supports the arm. The chair has a trapezoidal splint seat woven in a herringbone pattern. Each side of the chair has a turned stretcher below the arm and above the rush seat, that joints the upper portion of the front leg to the rear stile. These stretchers are each turned with a double-baluster form. The front and both sides of the chair each have two plain, cylindrical stretchers. The back has one plain, cylindrical stretcher. The frame is painted green.
Condition: The frame has been re-glued. The top two slats are replaced; the top edge of the third slat is replaced. Each foot is replaced; an iron band circles the left front leg where the foot joins the leg. There is a hole where the round tenon at the top of each front leg extends up into the arm. There are multiple light scratches and gouges in the finish and the wood on the arms and the front legs. The green paint may be original; it is well worn on the arms and stretchers, but is not applied on the replaced parts. The splint seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top and bottom slat are tenoned and pinned into each stile; the slats between are tenoned into each stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. The underside of each arm is straight toward the back, thicker where it joins the front leg, and notched just behind the scrolled handhold. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the handhold above. Each seat rail is probably bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front or back legs and the stiles. Faint grooves circle the stiles and legs, marking the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Condition: The frame has been re-glued. The top two slats are replaced; the top edge of the third slat is replaced. Each foot is replaced; an iron band circles the left front leg where the foot joins the leg. There is a hole where the round tenon at the top of each front leg extends up into the arm. There are multiple light scratches and gouges in the finish and the wood on the arms and the front legs. The green paint may be original; it is well worn on the arms and stretchers, but is not applied on the replaced parts. The splint seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top and bottom slat are tenoned and pinned into each stile; the slats between are tenoned into each stile. The back of each arm is tenoned and pinned into the stile. The underside of each arm is straight toward the back, thicker where it joins the front leg, and notched just behind the scrolled handhold. Each front leg is tenoned and pinned into the handhold above. Each seat rail is probably bladelike, with a rounded outer edge and a tapered inner edge. The seat rails and stretchers are tenoned into the front or back legs and the stiles. Faint grooves circle the stiles and legs, marking the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Object number1974.56.14
InscribedA typed, white paper label is taped to the back of the second slat from the top. It reads, "This maple chair with ash stretchers/ made c. 1720, was brought in 1879 by Mrs. Roderick Bissell, widow,/ gd-dau-in-law of Ezekiel-4-Bissell, sr., (Daniel-3-John-2-1), 1705-1783, from/ her home on his Torringford, Ct., farm to 640 Main St. Winsted, Ct. Belonged to/ his father Daniel of Windsor, Ct. 1663-1738? In 1964 new ash splints replaced/ original seat of same; two maple top back slats replaced two earlier obvious re-/ placements; all sockets reglued; no paint removed - none added; & all slightly/ waxed. Original green paint extant 1966 probably made from known Conn., 18th cent./ verdigris formula/ 640 Main St. Winsted Ct [signed] Roderick Bissell Jones [typed] gt-gd-son of Mrs. R. B."On View
Not on view
