4-slat armchair

1775-1825

Measurements

41-7/8 in x 24 in x 21 in

Materials

Maple, ash (two middle slats), rush (seat)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of Hugh Plumb

Accession Number

2018.7

Condition Notes

The damaged rush seat was replaced in 2024.  The right rear post has split immediately above the mortise for the top slat.  

Provenance

The donor is a great grandson of H. Rodney Sharp, in whose collection the chair formerly resided.

Comments

The turned, 4-slat armchair has slightly tapered rear posts that terminate in a ball finial above two reels.  The bottoms of the rear posts taper inward to form feet, as do the front posts.  The front posts have a small baluster turning above a larger one immediately above the woven rush seat.  The balusters and ball finials have double scored rings around the widest diameter.  The carved arms have blocky handholds and they double undercuts along the bottoms.  The four arched slats are of graduated sizes.  Unlike the vast majority of Philadelphia and Delaware Valley turned slat-back chairs, these slats are straight across the bottom.  Some turned chairs from Berks and Lehigh Counties have similarly shaped slats.  As is usual with these chairs, only the top slat is pinned in place.  Paired rungs and a single rung in the back form boxed stretchers.