Images(2)

Backstool

Date1770-1800

OriginAmerica, Rhode Island, Newport

MediumMahogany, maple, white pine

DimensionsOH: 38"; OW: 21"; OD: 17 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1968-805

DescriptionAppearance: Upholstered side chair with a rectangular stuffed back; serpentine crest; straight sides; square seat, upholstered over rails; square front legs fluted on outside surfaces above stretchers, stop-fluted below, chamfered on inside edge; rectangular plain rear legs, raking backward in two steps; two side and medial stretchers, molded on front on outside edge, rectangular in cross section; rear stretcher plain.

Woods: The seat rails and back frame are soft maple. Two original, very large corner blocks of white pine are nailed and glued to the seat frame (other two blocks are missing).
Label TextChairs of the mid to late-18th century, had straight or curved (cabriole) legs. While makers in other regions opted either for plain or molded (with a shaped surface) straight legs, Newport craftsmen chose to embellish their straight legs with stop-fluting. That was to carve channels (flutes) in the upper portion of the leg but leave the lower portion with the flutes filled with a convex, rod-like element. While this detail was often used on quarter columns on furniture, echoing classical architectural columns, only Newport cabinetmakers chose to incorporate stop-fluting onto square legs.

This backstool survives with its upholstery peaks intact on the tops of its front legs. Upholstery peaks anchord the stitched rolls that would have provided a hard, squared-off edge to the seat. The back, with the rounded top edge of its crest rail would have had a softly rounded, low profile upholstery.

Exhibition(s)