Side Chair

DateCa. 1745

MediumEuropean walnut throughout (Juglans regia by microanalysis).

DimensionsOH: 38" OW: 20 1/2" OD: 16 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1970-7

DescriptionAppearance: Side chair with yoked crest rail, round in section, does not project beyond stiles; stiles round in section above seat rail; rear legs blocked and turned; splat is flat, has straight sides with beveled rear edges, and tapers in width toward top; shoe is cove molded; seat is trapezoidal in shape with rounded front corners; front and side seat rails have rounded upper edges and hollowed bottom edges; front legs straight, round in section, and decorated with lambrequin-shaped carving at knee; front feet of turned pad form on straight-sided discs; turned rear stretcher plain with tapered ends; side stretchers blocked and turned; (medial stretcher replaced).

Construction: Normal chair construction in all respects; shoe and rear seat rail are not integral; front legs are quarter round in shape on their inside surfaces where they join the seat rails.
Markings"V" chiseled into rabbet of front seat rail; "VII" chiseled into later left rear corner brace.
ProvenanceLetters and memos in the object file record that vendor acquired the chair from a second party who had, in turn, acquired it from an African-American family in Hampton, Virginia, long residents of that city.