Windsor writing armchair

1830-1860

Measurements

33-1/8 in x 35 in x 34-1/2 in

Materials

Tulip poplar (seat), maple (all turnings except as noted, arms, and crest), walnut (right legs and stretcher, rear stretcher), white pine, (writing surface)

Credit Line

Anonymous loan to the Historic Odessa Foundation

Accession Number

2011.33

Condition Notes

The drawer is a replacement.  The walnut legs and stretchers on the right side are replacements.  The front stretcher has been repaired at each end.  A portion of the right rear leg has split off from the inside.  The painted decoration is very worn.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This tablet-top Windsor armchair with a writing surface stands on four turned legs.  The leg turnings have a distinctive swelling about two-thirds down from the top.  They are joined by four simple rungs.  The plain-turned rear posts support the tablet crest, which in turn supports five plain spindles.  An ogee-carved arm attaches to the right rear post and to an arm support in front, wedged in place from the underside.  It has three turned rings, the only decorative turning on the chair.  A broad writing surface is attached on the left side to accommodate a right-handed writer.  A projecting tongue from the carved seat supports three short spindles that in turn support a triangular block of wood.  The writing surface attaches with glue and three screws driven in from the top.  A drawer (a replacement) hangs from the underside.

The left front leg splays deeply to counterbalance the weight of the writing board.  The chair was painted in a “mahoganized” graining pattern of red and black with yellow striping.  That paint is not evident on the replaced legs and rungs.