Smoking Chair
Furniture MakerMade and upholstered by
Hermann Maerklein
1826 - 1921
Date1865-1875
MediumBlack walnut, ash, brass, iron
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth of each chair): 30 x 21 1/2 x 25in. (76.2 x 54.6 x 63.5cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionOne of a pair of unupholstered, black walnut and ash smoking chair frames in the Renaissance Revival style. The back of each chair is formed by a horizontal crest rail at the top, and a stay rail below, both between two stiles. The crest rail and the top of each stile have a straight top edge that is curled back. Above the seat, the stiles are slanted back. Below the seat, each stile forms a leg that curves back and then down to form a plain foot. The chairs no longer have their upholstery. Small tack holes show where the upholstery nails would have been originally. The lower two thirds of the front and side seat rails are carved and would not have been covered with upholstery; each rail has two bands of three horizontal, recessed flutes. Each front leg consists of a block at the top carved with a flower on the front and side, over a tapered column, over three rings, a cylindrical section, and a brass caster. The portions of the upper frame that would have been upholstered originally are not finished.
Condition: The upholstery is completely missing from smoking chair .1. The seat rails of each chair are scratched; smoking chair .2 has more scratches than .1. On each chair, the lower portion of the back legs and projecting portions of the front legs are lightly scratched.
Design and Construction Details: On each chair frame, the crest rail, the stay rail, and the back seat rail are tenoned into the stiles. A corner block, with a curved inner surface and a cut-out in the back to accommodate the interior corner of the stile, is glued down on top of the back and side seat rails. The top edges of each corner block are chamfered. The front seat rail and each side seat rail are tenoned into the tops of the legs. Each front leg extends from the height of the seat and terminates with a caster. The portions of each stile that are above the seat, the top third of each seat rail, and a portion of the block at the top of each front leg, are all recessed slightly and were once covered with upholstery.
Upholstery. Smoking chair .1 has no upholstery.
Condition: The upholstery is completely missing from smoking chair .1. The seat rails of each chair are scratched; smoking chair .2 has more scratches than .1. On each chair, the lower portion of the back legs and projecting portions of the front legs are lightly scratched.
Design and Construction Details: On each chair frame, the crest rail, the stay rail, and the back seat rail are tenoned into the stiles. A corner block, with a curved inner surface and a cut-out in the back to accommodate the interior corner of the stile, is glued down on top of the back and side seat rails. The top edges of each corner block are chamfered. The front seat rail and each side seat rail are tenoned into the tops of the legs. Each front leg extends from the height of the seat and terminates with a caster. The portions of each stile that are above the seat, the top third of each seat rail, and a portion of the block at the top of each front leg, are all recessed slightly and were once covered with upholstery.
Upholstery. Smoking chair .1 has no upholstery.
Object number1985.16.1
Subject Terms
On View
Not on view
