Side chair (one of a pair)

1735-1765

Measurements

39 in x 22 in x 20-3/8 in

Materials

Walnut; probably cherry (slip seat)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1958.3201

Inscription

"III" is chiseled into the front seat rabbet of chair 1958.3201.1.  The slip seat for that chair is marked "V".  It also has "Hall" in pencil near the slip seat number.  Hall may designate a name or a room in a house.  Chair 1958.3201.2 is abraded where the chiseled number is normally located.  Its slip seat is marked "IIII" and is also inscribed "Hall."

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This pair of side chairs, part of a larger set of at least six (given that one is marked no. 5), exhibits all of the design features of good Eastern Massachusetts seating of the Queen Anne style period.  The splat is of the so-called vasiform shape.  The “yoke” crest rail joins flat-faced rear stiles.  The front rail is undercut to form a half-round drop in the center flanked by ogee profiles.  The cabriole legs end in pad feet.  Side stretchers with baluster turnings in the front and long columns in the rear join the front and rear legs; swelled medial stretchers join the side stretchers and the rear leg, which are chamfered.

The slip seat appears to be made of cherry, a rare type of secondary wood for 18th century eastern Massachusetts furniture.  The needlework upholstery on each of the slip seats appears to be of 18th century origin.  It is not original to the seat frames but was added later.