Armchair, caneback

Date1700-1720

MediumWalnut, cane, and rush

DimensionsOH: 57"; OW: 26 1/4"; OD(at feet): 23 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Pierre Bedard.

Object number1962-255

DescriptionArmchair, caneback. Tall back with sender columnar stiles with knob finials and arched voluted carved crest rail; molded panel enclosing cane back. Open curved arms terminate in scrolled handholds on balustered supports, Flemish-scrolled legs with arched and voluted carved front stretcher, turned side and rear stretchers and flat scrolled cross stretcher. Current rush seat not original.
MarkingsStamped "IA" in a rectangle, with serif through center of the I, in four locations on the back of the chair: twice on the back of the crest rail, once on the far left, once on the far right, and twice on the stay rail in similar locations.
This initial could represent either an I or a J.
"VI" chiseled on the back of the proper left stile at the stay rail, and on the back of the proper right front leg at the knee.
ProvenanceEx-coll: Williams Ayres, Philadelphia; Howard Reifsnyder, Philadelphia; French and Company acquired the chair at the Reifsnyder sale in April 1928, from whom it was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Bedard.