4-slat side chair

1750-1825

Measurements

40-5/8 in x 19-1/2 in x 17 in

Materials

Maple and unidentified hardwoods covered by paint

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3770

Condition Notes

The chair is missing the top right side stretcher.  All legs have had the bottom 2-1/2 inches replaced.  See "Comments" for additional condition remarks.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This side chair with four arched slats of graduated size exhibits good turnings for this furniture form.  The ball finials atop the rear posts sit on double reel turnings, and the front legs have balusters formed near the top.  The front stretcher displays the Philadelphia region's interpretation of ring-and-ball.  The ball feet on the front legs are replacements that may, or may not, replicate the original treatment accurately.  The rear legs on chairs of this kind usually taper, unlike the ones on this chair--but they too are replacements and may not have been made accurately.  The top-most arched slat looks similar to the others, but it seems to have originated in another chair:  the right end of the slat does not quite reach the mortise cut into the rear post.

The present paint covers wear on the front stretcher, thus is later.