Images(3)

Garden Bench

Dateca. 1830

OriginEngland

Mediumpainted wrought iron

DimensionsOH: 41 1/2"; OW: 58"; OD: 25"

Credit LineGift of the John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, Fund, Inc., through the generosity and interest of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, and members of the family.

Object number1996.BH.803

DescriptionRegency style wrought iron garden bench, painted white. Rectangular iron garden seat with reeded, flat strapwork seat rails, legs, and back components. Seat formed by rails and seven rounded slats supported by rods and reeded strapwork. Six rounded, domed pad feet continue into reeded legs. End front legs continue up to form arms, joining stile at top with a scroll at rear. Rear legs continue up into back as stiles. Reeded flat crest rail punctuated by scrolls at end and three rounded, flat, reeded finials extending from equally spaced vertical components of back. Diagonal back members create two X shapes in back, with scrolls in center of each X. Rod front to back stretchers and diagonal braces from end stretcher to center, underside of seat.
Label TextFrom the late 18th into the early 19th century, wrought iron garden furniture ornamented elegant British gardens. Created of delicate, but durable strapwork, these benches provided delight and respite. The fashion for these pieces revived in America in the early 20th century after decades of more massive cast iron garden seats. Following this trend, Mrs. Rockefeller acquired a group of such pieces for her garden at Bassett Hall.
ProvenanceNancy McClealland, Inc., N.Y.C. Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr., November 1937.