Side chair, splat-back

Date1760-1780

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston area

MediumBlack walnut and maple

DimensionsOH: 37 1/2"; OW: 22 1/2"; OD (at seat): 16 1/2"; Seat Height: 17"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1977-306,A

DescriptionAppearance: Serpentine crest rail with molded ears and chamfered lower rear edge; vasiform splat with three vertical piercings divided midway by rounded segments; molded shoe; stiles with rounded backs above seat rail; trapezoidal slip seat; front and side seat rails with nearly flat upper edges; front cabriole legs with sharp knees, ogee blocking and pad and disc feet; rear Marlborough legs chamfered from seat rail to floor on front inner edges and from seat rail to top of stretcher then bottom of stretcher to floor on front outer edges; rear legs raked back slightly; block and turned H-plan stretcher assembly with one turned rear stretcher.

Construction: All elements are made of walnut except as noted; stiles and top of splat tenoned into crest rail; base of splat tenoned into shoe which is glued and nailed to rear seat rail; shoe overhangs rear seat rail on inside; all seat rails tenoned and pinned into legs; side and front seat rails rabbeted to accept slip seat; side elements of hard maple slip seat tenoned into front and rear elements; glue blocks never used; knee blocks glued and nailed to front legs and side and front seat rails; rear and side stretchers tenoned into legs, side stretchers also pinned to rear legs; medial stretcher tenoned into side stretchers.
Markings"II" chiseled into front seat rail rabbet; scribe marks visible on many parts of the object from original construction; "IIII" chiseled on underside of front element of slip seat.
ProvenanceAn identical chair at the MFA, Boston has a nearly identical crewel slip seat cover with a tradition of having been worked by Elizabeth Craft White of Brookline, Massachusetts, about 1776. There are three known similar seats and two matching hand fire screens.