Side Chair, Splat-Back

Date1754

Maker James James

Possibly by Samuel Harding (d. 1758)

Possibly by Nicholas Bernard (d. 1789)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumBlack walnut throughout

DimensionsOH (back): 42" OH (seat): 17 1/8" OW (seat front): 20 3/4" OD (seat): 16 3/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1970-8,2

DescriptionSplat-back side chair with shell at center top of crest flanked by a horizontal volute at each side; vase-shaped splat; rounded stiles made originally with one piece spliced to each other; side conform to shape of splat; side rails mortised through rear legs; shaped seat rail curving outward at each front corner and recession at center front of seat with applied shell; back legs chamfered at each corner and rake to rear; cabriole front legs with acanthus carving on each knee flanked by bracket with a volute and the leg terminating in a trifid foot with depressed element at each side extending up through ankle.
Label TextThat the most fully developed late baroque furniture in British North America was made in Philadelphia is verified by this chair. A supreme statement of the curvilinear style, this tour de force has only two right angles and four parallel straight lines at the height of the seat rails; nevertheless, it is soundly constructed.

A recently discovered account links this chair to Philadelphia cabinetmaker, James James. In 1754 James supplied John Reynall (also recorded as Reynolds) with a set of "6 Walnut Compass Chairs" for the price of L12.6.0. The term "compass" refers to the rounded shape of the seat. James is known to have supplied chairs to other wealthy Philadelphians including Samuel Morris and his wife Rebecca Wistar Morris whose chairs were described as "Walnut Compass Seated Chairs, Carv'd." One of the Morris chairs is in the Philadelphia Musuem of Art collection (1932-45-95) Reynell left half of his silver plate, furniture, and household posessions to his nephew Samuel Coates in 1784, in whose family the chair descended along with a silver salver (2020-268) also now at Colonial Williamsburg. Additional chairs from this set are in the Kaufman Collection (promised gift to the National Gallery of Art), the Winterthur Museum, and the Chipstone Foundation. Reynell also included a bequests in his 1784 will to the overseers of the public school in Philadelphia knowns as the Friends Grammar school, one for the benefit of the school and the other "for the use & benefit of a Negro School to be kept up in the City of Philadlephia forever." While James James is the maker of this chair, the carving may have been done by specialist carvers such as Samuel Harding or Nicholas Bernard.
InscribedNo
MarkingsRoman numeral "I" impressed center front top of frame for slipseat; paper label on back of seat rail inscribed "Hen(ry?) T (?) Coates"
ProvenanceTradition of original ownership by John and Mary Coates Reynell who married in 1736 and lived in Philadelphia.

History of ownership according to letter from Estelle L. Sharp to Milo M. Naeve July 31, 1970 (in object file):
1. Mary Coates, daughter of Thomas and Beulah Coates married John Reynell in 1736. They lived on the corner of Front and Walnut Sts., Phila.
2. Samuel Coates (1748-1830), who was an infant at the time of his father's death (Josiah Langdale Coates) was adopted by his Uncle Reynell who had lost all his children. This Samuel Coates was manager of the Penna. Hospital for 40 years.
3. His sons by 2nd wife (Amy Horner, married 1791)
Dr. Benj. Horner Coates 1797-1881
Dr. Reynell Coates
4. Miss Mary Coates (1815-1913) had the chairs from 1881 until her death. 1616 Arch St., Phila.
5. Her nephew, William Morrison Coates, 1717 Spruce St. Phila. from 1913-1945
6. His daughter Esther Coates Sharp, "Overfields," Berwyn, PA.

The probable path of descent through the Coates family is:
John & Mary Coates Reynell to her nephew Samuel Coates (1748-1830); to his son Benjamin Homer Coates (1797-1881); to his first cousin once removed Mary Coates (1815-1913); to her nephew Henry Troth Coates (1843-1910) and or nephew William Morrison Coates (1845-1937); to William’s daughter Ester Coates Sharp (1870-1968); to daughters May Bunting Sharp (b. 1907) and Estelle L. Sharp (1902-1994).

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