Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1790-1800
MediumMaple, ash, chestnut
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 34 7/16 x 20 11/16 x 18 13/16in. (87.5 x 52.5 x 47.8cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Thomas Archibald
DescriptionBlack painted side chair in the Windsor style, with a crest rail, a fan-back, a plank seat, and turned posts, spindles, stiles, legs, and stretchers. The fan-back consists of a crest rail supported by seven slender spindles between two turned posts; the spindles and posts are arranged close together at the bottom then separate, or fan, further up the back of the chair. The serpentine crest rail has a shaped upper edge, consisting of an arch in the center flanked by a scrolled ear with a carved front. The two posts are turned with baluster forms. The spindles and posts are slanted back and joined to the seat in a semi-circular arrangement. The chestnut plank seat is shield-shaped and saddled, or recessed with a raised ridge at the front edge; the seat has a flat section at the back where the spindles join the seat. Below the seat are four turned legs that are raked, or slanted out from top to bottom; each leg is turned with a baluster and ring forms over a bulbous ankle and tapered foot. Each side of the chair has a stretcher with an ovoid turning in the center flanked by a cylindrical section. Between the side stretchers is a single medial stretcher with an ovoid turning in the center flanked by a ring and cylindrical section.
Painted Decoration: The chair has an overall black paint with gilded lines outlining the crest rail, down the front of each spindle, and circling turned forms of the posts, front legs and medial stretcher.
Condition: The right ear has broken off and been reattached with nails down through the top. The top of the right post has detached from the crest rail and also been repaired with nails. The chair has later black and gold paint applied over grey paint. The black paint is well worn and flaking over the entire chair, but especially on the plank seat. Where the black paint is flaking, grey paint or bare wood is revealed below.
Design and Construction Details: The posts are tenoned and pinned up into the crest rail; the spindles are tenoned up into the crest rail. The posts are tenoned down through the seat at the sides of the spindle platform; a wedge is inserted into the end of the tenons. The spindles are tenoned down into the spindle platform. A narrow groove outlines the edges of the spindle platform. The seat is constructed of a solid plank of wood and supported on a through tenon at the top of each leg; a wedge is inserted into the end of each tenon. The side stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers. All the tenons are inserted at an angle, where necessary, to give the proper slant to the bow and each of the spindles and legs. A faint groove circles each lower leg to mark the placement of the stretchers.
Painted Decoration: The chair has an overall black paint with gilded lines outlining the crest rail, down the front of each spindle, and circling turned forms of the posts, front legs and medial stretcher.
Condition: The right ear has broken off and been reattached with nails down through the top. The top of the right post has detached from the crest rail and also been repaired with nails. The chair has later black and gold paint applied over grey paint. The black paint is well worn and flaking over the entire chair, but especially on the plank seat. Where the black paint is flaking, grey paint or bare wood is revealed below.
Design and Construction Details: The posts are tenoned and pinned up into the crest rail; the spindles are tenoned up into the crest rail. The posts are tenoned down through the seat at the sides of the spindle platform; a wedge is inserted into the end of the tenons. The spindles are tenoned down into the spindle platform. A narrow groove outlines the edges of the spindle platform. The seat is constructed of a solid plank of wood and supported on a through tenon at the top of each leg; a wedge is inserted into the end of each tenon. The side stretchers are tenoned into the lower legs. The medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers. All the tenons are inserted at an angle, where necessary, to give the proper slant to the bow and each of the spindles and legs. A faint groove circles each lower leg to mark the placement of the stretchers.
Object number1985.20.10
MarkingsThe underside of the seat has an incised "X".Subject Terms
On View
Not on view
