Images(2)

Smoking Chair

Dateca. 1775

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Petersburg

MediumBlack walnut and yellow pine

DimensionsOH: 32 9/16"; OW: 27 1/2"; OD: 24 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Frances Boush Johnson in loving memory of Dorothy Johnson Temple and William Thomas Temple

Object number2005-114

DescriptionAppearance: Corner or Roundabout chair with three turned columnar stiles, vase shaped splats, half-round arm rail with top mounted crest rail, straight legs, square in cross section with chamfered inner corner, with stretchers between (the two front stretchers are slightly higher than the two rear stretchers), and a yellow pine slipseat.

Construction: As in side chair construction, the seat rails are tenoned into the front leg and the three stiles and pinned. The slip-seat frame rests in rabbets cut into the front seat rails and in rabbets cut into yellow pine strips nailed to the inner face of the rear seat rails. The bases of the splats are let into mortises on the rear seat rails. The flat shoes and the rear seat rails are separate elements. The two outer halves of the arm rail are joined to a center section with a giant dovetail. The center section of the armrail includes the crest rail, which overlaps the inner ends of the armrails.
Label TextChairs of this form were known by various names in colonial America. “Corner chair” and “roundabouts” were two popular names. In Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and sometimes Britain they were often called “smoking chairs”. Lord Botetourt’s 1770 inventory for the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg listed four smoking chairs, two in the parlor and two in the dining room. Other 18th century inventories located the form in bedchambers and halls. These chairs were often employed for writing, reading, and related activities. Some with deep, concealing skirts were fitted with supports for chamber pots (this one was not). This example descended in the Ruffin family of Petersburg, Virginia and illustrates the “Neat and plain” style popular in the Chesapeake region.
ProvenanceThis corner chair descended in th Ruffin family of Petersburg, Virginia. Family history states that Francis Ruffin was the first owner. By descent to his daughter Mary Augusta Ruffin Marks, wife of Edward Richard Marks. By descent to their daughter Elizabeth Douglas Marks Temple. By descent to her son William Thomas Temple. By gift to his sister-in-law Miss Frances Boush Johnson.