Aitken side chair

Side chair
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

Maker John Aitken (American, active 1775 - 1800)

Geography Made - United States

Medium/TechniqueMahogany (primary)

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 37 1/4 in. x 20 1/4 in. x 18 3/4 in. (94.62 cm x 51.44 cm x 47.63 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. amd Mrs. Phillip Caldwell in memory of Desiree Branch Clark, 1986

Object numberM-2799/A

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 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.

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 ReferencesHorner, Willian MacPherson, Jr. Blue Book Philadelphia Furniture: William Penn to George Washington With Special Reference to the Philadelphia-Chippendale School. Philadelphia: William MacPherson Horner, Jr., 1935. pp. 238, 241, 242, and Plate 420.

Nutting, Wallace. Furniture Treasury. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1962. See #2369.

Montgomery, Charles F. American Furniture: The Federal Period. New York: The Viking Press, 1966. See #96 & #97.

Fede, Helen Maggs. Washington Furniture at Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon, Virginia: The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, 1966. pp. 60-63.

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