Images(2)

Easy Chair

Date1770-1780

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumMahogany, yellow pine, tulip poplar, red oak, black walnut, white pine (replaced)

DimensionsOH: 47"; OW: 37 1/2"; SD: 22"

Credit LineBequest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage

Object number1990-282

DescriptionAppearance: Upholstered easy chair with slightly rounded crest rail, rounded shaped wings, horizontally scrolled arms terminating in C scrolls, swelled front rail over cabriole legs with acanthus carving on knees and knee brackets over ball and claw feet; rounded stump back legs rake slightly towards rear; brass castors (replaced)

Construction:
Front seat rail lapped and nailed to side rails; front legs tenoned with round tenons (not wedged) into corners of lapped seat rails; knee blocks (reattached or replaced) nailed into legs; side rails tenoned through rear legs and pegged; rear leg stumps are notched into back stiles for smooth transition; flat chamfered crest rail half-lapped to stiles and nailed with large wrought nails; front faces of stiles are proud of crest; horizontal yellow pine medial back tacking rail is tenoned and pegged to stiles; lower white pine back tacking rail (possibly replaced) is lapped to stiles and nailed; tulip poplar vertical and horizontal side tacking rails are lapped on the inside to the front arm supports and nailed with large wrought nails; white pine vertical tacking rails (possibly replaced) are nailed and glued proud of the sides; laminated arm supports secured with large wrought nails.

Woods: mahogany legs and knee blocks; black walnut front and side seat rails, and blocking behind vertical arm cones; tulip poplar back stiles, arm supports, and side horizontal tacking rails; red oak rear seat rail; yellow pine back and wing crests, back medial tacking rail and vertical wing medial stiles; white pine lower back tacking rail and vertical side tacking rail (may be replacements).
Label TextPhiladelphia easy chairs of the mid to late 18th century often had shells or foliage carved on their knees. The carved foliage seen on this chair would have cost about three shillings more than shells due to the extra skill and time required.

Easy chairs are often used in living rooms today, but they were considered suitable for bedchambers and other private spaces in the 18th century.
InscribedName (not deciphered) inscribed in chalk ono the back rail. Formerly thought to read McClenachen.
ProvenanceFrom the collection of William K. du Pont
G.K. S. Bush, Washington, DC

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