Side chair, splat-back

Date1760-1785

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Piedmont, Southern (probably)

MediumBlack walnut and yellow pine

DimensionsOH: 37 1/4"; OW (seat : rail): 20 1/4"; OD (seat rail): 17"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1982-119,1

DescriptionAppearance: Serpentine crest rail with slightly rounded ears; solid splat tapering inward from crest rail; molded shoe; stiles with backs rounded above seat rail and splayed outward at top; trapezoidal slip seat; front and side seat rails beaded on upper edges; front legs beaded on outside front edge and chamfered on inside rear edge; rear legs taper in toward one another at base and are raked back; rear legs chamfered on inside edges; box stretcher assembly with side stretchers placed below front and rear stretchers.

Construction: All elements 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 and further diagonally pinned from inside seat frame; side and front seat rails rabbeted to accept slipseat; side elements of yellow pine slip seat frame tenoned into front and rear elements; glue blocks never used; stretchers tenoned and pinned into legs and further diagonally pinned from inside.
MarkingsNo.1: "VIIII" chiseled in rabbet of front seat rail; "VIIII" chiseled on underside of front slip seat element; label on left inside seat rail reads "This walnut chair - one of three - came to Mrs. Ann Carrington (Booker) Eggleston from her father. Tradition is that these chairs came from England."
No.2: "X" chiseled in rabbet of front seat rail; "X" chiseled on inside of right side seat rail; "XII" chiseled on understate of front slip seat element; "F" penciled on inside of left seat rail; "N" incised on top of right stile near crest rail; same paper label as No. 1.
No. 3: no number in rabbet of front seat rail; "XI" chiseled on underside of front slip seat element; same paper label as No. 1.
ProvenanceTradition of having descended in the Eggleston/Booker families of Amelia and Prince Edward Counties, Virginia.