Side chair

Status

Not on view

Label Text

The Washingtons may have acquired this chair in the years following the Revolutionary War. While its shield-back and serpentine-front seat were inspired by the designs of George Hepplewhite, a British cabinetmaker, the distinctive pattern of the pierced splat was an innovation of Maryland cabinetmakers.

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Date1785-1800

Maker John Shaw (Scottish, 1745 - 1829)

Geography Made - United States

Medium/TechniqueMahogany (primary), yellow pine (corner braces)

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 37 1/2 in. x 20 1/2 in. x 21 1/2 in. (95.25 cm x 52.07 cm x 54.61 cm)

Credit LineGift of Eleanor Custis Boylin Nesbit, 1992

Object numberW-3611/A

DescriptionMahogany side chair with shield back and pierced splat; pierced splat consists of sharply pointed tear drop cut outs at the top and bottom center of the splat framed by two vertical straps on each side; the shaped stiles and crest rail are outlined with a simple bead on their inner and outer edge; trapezoidal seat with serpentine front; two square, tapering legs at front and two rounded, raked back legs at rear, all connected with an H-stretcher; the medial stretcher is tenoned into the side stretchers; the rear stretcher has been cut off, as indicated by the filled mortises on the sides of the rear legs; corner braces of yellow pine glued into shallow gouges in each corner of the seat frame; upholstered over the rail in black haircloth with yellow stripes, secured with a line of round head tacks along the front and side rails; in some places along the back and sides, the tacks have been replaced with machine-cut nails; webbing and canvas sack visible on undercarriage of chair.

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