Bow-back Windsor side chair

Bow-back Windsor chair
Tulip poplar, oak, maple
1785-1815

Status

Not on view

Label Text

This Windsor chair may have been owned by George and Martha Washington and used at Mount Vernon or the presidential mansion in Philadelphia. Traces of several painted finishes - cream or yellow, green, and black - are still visible around the sides of the seat and in the grooves of the bamboo-turned legs and stretchers.

Read MoreRead Less

Date1785-1815

Geography Probably made - United States

Medium/TechniqueTulip poplar (seat), oak (bow and spindles), maple (legs and stretchers)

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 36 1/4 in. x 19 1/8 in. x 16 9/16 in. (92.08 cm x 48.58 cm x 42.07 cm)

Credit LinePurchase, 1952

Object numberW-1877

DescriptionBow-back Windsor side chair with nine, three-part, bamboo-turned spindles, a round seat with straight sides, and four, splayed, three-part, bamboo-turned legs joined by H-mounted stretchers. The continuous bow back of the chair is crowned and beaded on the inside front edge and rounded at back and nips in at the waist; its ends are tenoned through the seat and wedged. The spindles are tenoned into the seat and bow; the center seven extend through the seat and are wedged. The plank seat has a deep groove outlining the front, back and sides of the spindle area. Each leg is tenoned through the seat and wedged. The bamboo turned stretcher support has two part, single-swell side stretchers and a three-part, double-swell medial stretcher. Evidence of a succession of finishes (cream or yellow, black, and green) are present in the grooves of the legs and stretchers, remnants of dark green paint are visible around the sides of the seat, and patches of light green paint are present on the underside of the seat.

A nail is driven into the seat front just above each of the front legs. The grooves and turning of the center spindle do not align with those of the other spindles, suggesting it may be a replacement.

Mount Vernon's object research is ongoing and information about this object is subject to change. For information on image use and reproductions, click here.