6-slat side chair

1765-1830

Measurements

44 in x 19 in x 16 in

Materials

Maple, rush (seat)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.565

Condition Notes

The bottom 7 inches of both rear legs is a replacement as is the bottom 4 inches of the front legs. The chair has been stripped of all color.

Provenance

Bequest of Dr. and Mrs. J. Newberry Reynolds to The David Wilson Mansion, Inc., in 1942.

Comments

The six arched slats forming the back of this turned chair were a decorative enhancement over the usual three or four or occasionally five slats.  The handsome ball and reel finials cap the slightly tapered rear posts. The ball-and-reel turnings near the tops of the front legs provide further visual interest, as does the ring-and-ball turned front stretchers.  The repaired bottoms of the rear legs lack the usual tapered foot. The turned front feet follow the general shape of some late 18th century feet, but they too are replacements. The maple used in the turned posts exhibits some stripe but not enough to ensure that it was consciously selected for its decorative value.  This chair may have been colored originally.  In keeping with early turned chairs, only the top slat is pinned to the posts.