Side Chair, Splat Back

Date1760-1780

Possibly by Gerard Hopkins

OriginAmerica, Maryland or Pennsylvania, Delaware River Valley

Mediummahogany, white pine, maple

DimensionsNo. 1: OH: 40"; OW: 23 5/8"; OD: 21 3/8" No. 2: OH: 40"; OW: 23 3/4"; OD: 21 3/4"

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Roger W. Peck

Object number1970-188,1

DescriptionAppearance: Serpentine crest rail with central shell carving and molded voluted ears; pierced heart and diamond motif splat; stiles with molded backs above seat rail; molded shoe; front and side seat rails with thumbnail molded top edges; front and side seat rails undercut; trapezoidal slip seat; front cabriole legs with acanthus carved knees and knee blocking; legs ending in ball and claw feet; rear marlborough legs with inner edges chamfered, splayed inward and raked back.
Construction: All elements of mahogany except as noted; stiles and splat tenoned into crest rail; splat tenoned into shoe which is glued and nailed to rear seat rail; all seat rails tenoned into legs; side elements of maple slip seat frame half-lapped and glued over front and rear elements; two piece, vertical, white pine corner blocks glued to front and side seat rails; one piece, horizontal, white pine corner blocks glued and screwed to rear and side seat rails.
MarkingsNo. 1: "V" chiseled into inside of rear seat rail; "V" chiseled into underside of rear slip seat element.

No. 2: "I" chiseled into inside of rear seat rail; "I" chiseled into underside of rear slip seat element.