Bow-back Windsor side chair (one of a pair)

1798-1807

Maker

Sampson Barnet (working 1776-1823)

Measurements

1973.384.1: 36-1/2 x 20-3/4 x 21-1/2; 1973.384.2: 36-3/4 x 21-1/4 x 20-1/2

Materials

Tulip poplar* (seat), maple* (legs and stretchers), white oak* (bow), hickory* (spindles)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of Mrs. E. Haskell Fleitas

Accession Number

1973.384

Inscription

"S. Barnet / Wilmington" is stamped into the front edge of the underside of the seat.

Condition Notes

The bottom three or so inches of all of the legs have been restored.  The chairs were painted a pea green color by Winterthur in the 1980s and were repainted the present dark green in 2022.

Comments

The deeply curved bow of the Windsor side chair (1973.384.2 was photographed for this record) encloses nine spindles, each of which swells near the bottom and near the top.  The bow itself has strong reverse curves immediately above where it joins the carved shield-shape seat.  The four legs are bamboo-turned.  The side stretchers swell in the center, and the medial stretcher swells near each end.