Armchair, ladderback

Date1690-1720

OriginAmerica, Connecticut, New London County, Norwich area

MediumMaple, ash, oak, and rush

DimensionsOH: 46 1/2"; OW: 26"; OD: 17 5/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1971-3309

DescriptionLadderback armchair, compresed ball and baluster turned rear posts with ring and ball finials capped with smaller balls; back composed of three arched slats; compressed double ball and baluster ring-turned front posts terminating in mushroom finials or oversized pommels at top; turned armrests extend at downward angle from rear posts to top of front posts; trapezoidal rush seat; cylindrical double front and side stretchers; cylindrical rear stretcher.

Woods: The posts and arms are maple; the stretchers are oka and and slats are ash.
Label TextThis early armchair was probably made in New London County, Connecticut in the area of Norwich. It represents a group of chairs, of which this is probably a later example from the early 18th century, that have turned stiles and posts, downward sloping turned arms, and large turned pommels or mushroom shaped caps on the tops of the arm supports. This chair has arched slats rather than the more rectilinear shaped slats found on earlier (late-17th century) examples of this group of chairs.
MarkingsNone