Side Chair
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Churchill family
American
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1730-1770
MediumMaple, ash, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 41 9/16 x 18 3/4 x 14 1/2in. (105.6 x 47.6 x 36.8cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
DescriptionMaple side chair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a slat-back, turned stiles, front legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by four horizontal slats between the two turned stiles. Each stile has a ball and ring form finial at the top, over alternating cylinder and ring forms. The slats are curved back in the center, and they decrease in height incrementally from the top slat down to the bottom one. The top slat has an arched top edge; the slats below each have a top edge that peaks in the center and tapers down to the sides. Below the seat, each stile forms a cylindrical back leg. Each front leg is turned with three cylindrical sections, each separated by a ring turning. Each front leg has a rounded top that extends slightly higher than the rush seat, which is trapezoidal in shape. The front and each side of the chair have two stretchers, turned with ovoid forms. The back has a plain turned stretcher.
Condition: All four feet, and possibly the back stretcher, are replaced. A split in the top of the front right leg has been repaired. The frame is re-glued and refinished. The rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into each stile; the slats below are tenoned into each stile. The seat rails are cylindrical and are tenoned into the stile at the back and into the legs at the front. Each of the stretchers is tenoned into the front or back legs. Faint grooves circling the stiles and front legs mark the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Condition: All four feet, and possibly the back stretcher, are replaced. A split in the top of the front right leg has been repaired. The frame is re-glued and refinished. The rush seat is replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The top slat is tenoned and pinned into each stile; the slats below are tenoned into each stile. The seat rails are cylindrical and are tenoned into the stile at the back and into the legs at the front. Each of the stretchers is tenoned into the front or back legs. Faint grooves circling the stiles and front legs mark the placement of the slats, seat rails, and stretchers.
Object number1945.1.1146
InscribedThe number "CHS 1146" is stamped into the top of the back left leg. A portion of a rectangular white paper label with a red border is adhered to the back of the top slat. The remainder of the paper label is located in the object file. "5.16/ Seymour" is hand-written in pencil on the label.Subject Terms
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