Side chair (one of a pair)

1755-1785

Measurements

41-1/2 in x 23-1/2 in x 22-1/8 in

Materials

Walnut; hard pine (slip seat), white cedar (corner blocks)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1958.3220

Inscription

Chair .1:  “I” is chiseled into the front seat rabbet; "VI" is chiseled into the slip seat.  Chair .2:  “III” is chiseled into the front seat rabbet; "V" is chiseled into the slip seat.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

This chair and its mate (chair .1 was photographed) have several characteristics of early Chippendale chairs of the Philadelphia area.  Specifically, the splat pattern is among the earliest used, the chair-back is bordered by a scratch-bead, and the cabriole legs end in trifid feet (which continued in use for a long time).  The four carved shells--at the crest, the front rail, and each of the two front legs--are long and thin, again suggesting an early date.  In contrast, the proportions of the chair suggest a later date.  The back is especially broad, more in keeping with seating of the 1770s and later.  Also, the rear legs are rounded rather than chamfered.  Each of the seat rail joints is secured with two pins, and the side rails are tenoned through the rear stiles.  The splat is nicely carved.