Side Chair

Date1730-1765

MediumBlack walnut and maple

DimensionsOH: 39 1/8"; OW: 21 5/8"; D: 16 7/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-222,1

DescriptionAppearance: side chair with compass seat; yoke shaped crest rail; cyam curve styles; vase shape splat; sharply define volutes on splat, back edge of splat chamfered; cavetto splat shoe with quarter round bead; stiles chamfered on reverse above seat rails, on all four sides between seat rail and top of stretchers, and on front below stretchers; top of seat rails slightly rounded, bottom of front and side seat rails coved, rabbeted to accept slip seat frame; plain knee, cabriole legs with ogee knee brackets; heavy turned pad feet without disks; turned side, back and medial stretchers.

Construction: Walnut frame, maple slip seat; all joints pinned except crest rail, medial and rear stretchers; crest rail mortised to accept tenons of stiles and splat; splat shoe mortised for splat and nailed to rear set rail; seat rails tenoned to stiles and legs; front legs and seat rails appear to have been originally pinned from behind and latter pinned from the exterior; knee brackets nailed in place (modern nails); side stretchers square tenoned to stiles and legs, medial stretcher round tenoned between side stretcher round tenoned between stiles.

Woods: Walnut frame with maple slip seat.
Label TextOne of a pair in this collection, the other chair is numbered IIII both on the seat rail and slip-seat frame. Only slight differences separate this example from #1930-164. The splat has been cut out and lightened at the top, and the feet are broader and flatter and lack (or have lost) the high pad of the other example. The rear legs have been cut back at the base to further lighten the bulk.

A related chair at Winterthur is attributed to Newport on the basis of a carved shell in the center of the cresting rail. With the exception of this detail, the two chairs are virtually identical.
Markings"30-222" stamped into rear member of slip seat; "VI" chiseled on front member of slip seat and front seat rail. "30-222" stamped into rear member of slip seat; "IIII" chiseled on front member of slip seat and front seat rail.
ProvenanceEx Coll: L. G. Meyers; Girl Scouts exhibition 1929; museum purchase 1930.