Aitken side chair

Side chair
Probable maker: John Aitken
Mahogany
c. 1795

Status

Not on view

Label Text

In 1797, Philadelphia cabinetmaker John Aitken supplied two dozen elliptic-cornered square back side chairs to George Washington for use in his "New Room" at Mount Vernon. The design of this chair is remarkably similar to surviving Washington examples, suggesting that it may also be from Aitken's shop.

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Datec. 1795

Probable maker John Aitken (American, active 1775 - 1800)

Geography Made - United States

Medium/TechniqueMahogany (primary)

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 37 1/8 in. x 20 1/2 in. x 19 in. (94.3 cm x 52.07 cm x 48.26 cm)

Credit LinePurchase, 1999

Object numberM-4058/D

DescriptionSquare-back side chair having a bead-molded, elliptic-cornered crest rail with leaf-carved tablet at top center, a pierced and carved splat with drapery-swagged vase set between two slender colonettes with leaf-carved capitals and rosette-carved plinths, a serpentine-front seat with swelled sides upholstered over the rails, and line-inlaid, square, tapered front legs joined by H-mounted stretchers. Canted bead-molded stiles with chamfered back edges and rear legs with rear heels shaved on outside.

Upholstered over the rails in green silk damask with a brass-tacked swag pattern above a single line of brass tacks on all four sides of the seat.

Published ReferencesSotheby's (Firm), Important Americana: Furniture and Folk Art: New York, January 16-17, 1999, Sales Catalogue NO7253 (New York: Sotheby's, 1999), Lot 625.

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