Compass-seat armchair

1740-1760

and later

Measurements

41-1/4 in x 30-1/2 in x 23-3/4 in

Materials

Walnut

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1958.3288

Inscription

“III” is chiseled into the top of the front seat rail.  The slip seat has "II" chiseled into it.

Condition Notes

See "Comments"

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This compass-seat armchair, so-called because the curved seat rails were laid out with a compass, exhibits extensive reworking.  It appears to mix old parts with new.  The rear stiles have the customary laminations on the inside curved sections. The rear legs have been extended about 7/8-inch, but the front claw-and-ball feet have not.  The front feet show carving anomalies and have none of the usual wear on the bottom.  The shells on the front legs are flatter (less three-dimensional modeling) than usual and have a strange pointed drop at the bottom.  The knee brackets flanking each front leg intersect the leg at an angled seam.  The small rear brackets are obvious replacements.  The front legs do not curve in tandem with the seat rail shape. Three dowels run through the top of the front rail into each front leg, the middle of which runs through the usual round tenon of the leg.  The arm supports do not appear to be of 18th century manufacture, and they interfere with removal of the slip seat.  The arms are straighter, especially on the inside, than normal.  The thickness of the board used to make the crest rail is noticeably thinner than the depth of the adjoining rounded rear stiles.