Side Chair
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1775-1800
MediumMaple, rush
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height x width x depth): 45 1/4 x 18 15/16 x 15 1/2in. (114.9 x 48.1 x 39.4cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
DescriptionMaple side chair in the William and Mary, or early baroque, style, with a shaped crest rail, a banister-back, turned stiles, legs, and stretchers, and a rush seat. The back of the chair is formed by a solid crest rail at the top between two stiles; each stile has a slender urn-shaped finial at the top. The crest rail has a shaped upper edge, consisting of two raised half circles in the middle, with a fillet, or short horizontal, a recessed half circle, a peak, and a sloping quarter circle to each side. Below the crest rail are four baluster-and-reed banisters, 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 has baluster-and-reed turnings. Below the seat, each stile extends down to form straight legs and feet. Each front leg is turned with three blocks separated by ovoid forms, over a bulb-shaped foot. The top of each front leg is slightly taller than the rush seat, which is trapezoidal in shape. The front stretcher is turned with double-baluster-and-ring forms. Each side of the chair has two stretchers turned with a double-baluster form. The back stretcher is plain.
Condition: The feet are replaced. The side of the right stile, at the crest rail, has been repaired or replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by rectangular tenons at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. Each banister is constructed of a split spindle. Each banister is tenoned into the crest rail at the top and into the stay rail below. Each end of the stay rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the stile. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs. Faint black lines circle the stiles and mark the placement of the stay rail, seat rails, and stretchers.
Condition: The feet are replaced. The side of the right stile, at the crest rail, has been repaired or replaced.
Design and Construction Details: The crest rail is supported by rectangular tenons at the top of each stile; each of these joints is secured with a wooden pin. Each banister is constructed of a split spindle. Each banister is tenoned into the crest rail at the top and into the stay rail below. Each end of the stay rail has a rectangular tenon that extends into the stile. The seat rails and stretchers have round tenons that extend into the front or back legs. Faint black lines circle the stiles and mark the placement of the stay rail, seat rails, and stretchers.
Object number1945.1.1149
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