Settee

Dateca. 1840

MediumTulip poplar and paint

DimensionsOH: 31 1/2" (80.01 cm); OW: 77 3/8" (196.53 cm); OD: 21" (53.34 cm); width of crest rail 4 3/4" (12.06 cm)

Credit LineBequest of Mrs. Effie Thixton Arthur

Object number1979.2000.2

DescriptionPainted settee with alternating leaf and basket of fruit motifs carved in the continuous one-board crest rail. The backs are formed by arrow-shaped leaf supports below horizontal carved two-band twists (guilloche). The arms are scrolled with a reverse S scroll supporting them. The piece has slightly curved and tapered front legs and raked back legs. These are joined with flat mortised-in stretchers at the front and rear, and with turned doweled-in round stretchers at the ends and at quarter points. The seat is slightly concave at top surface and rounded on all four edges. A concave, plane-struck line follows around the perimeter of the seat top in front of back posts and arms and terminates at seat edges near arm supports. Legs, back posts and leaf supports are all mortised and/or doweled into seat. Arm supports are mortised into back posts and attached with screws from underside of seat. The carving on this piece is crude by comparison with other details of construction.