Chair Fragment

Date1771-1776

MediumCherry, oak, linen, leather, and curled hair

DimensionsOW: 20 1/8"; OH: 16 1/8"; OD: 17 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1982-275

DescriptionBottom half of a side chair (missing chair back); trapezoidal seat with slipseat; seat rails rounded on top edge; straight legs, square in cross section, with bead on outer corner and chamfered on inside corner; rear legs rake slightly towards back; side, front and rear stretchers, rectangular in cross section with rounded outer top edges; front and rear stretchers slightly higher than side stretchers; slipseat retains original webbing, stuffing, linen, and fragments of leather.
Markings"IV" on back of seat rail. "V" marked on rear rail of slipseat.
ProvenanceAccording to family tradition, the settee, matching chairs (1975-23, 1-8), and this chair fragment (1982-275) were purchased by Thomas Lewis of Augusta Co., Va., at the 1776 Williamsburg auction of Lord Dunmore's personal property. The furniture was a wedding gift to Lewis's sister, Agatha Frogg Lewis, and John Stuart of Greenbriar Co., Va. (now W. Va). The Stuarts later lived at Stuart Manor near present-day Lewisburg. Both the settee and the matching side chairs were purchased by CWF in 1975 from members of the family still living at the estate. The chair fragment was discovered to be part of the set by the family in 1982.