Side chair

Status

Not on view

Label Text

During the time George Washington spent in Philadelphia before and after the Revolution and during the Presidency, he came to appreciate the quality, style, and affordable price of the furnishings produced by its artisans. Pierced "scroll'd splatt" chairs were among the most popular offerings of Philadelphia cabinetmakers in the late eighteenth century. Washington may have purchased chairs such as this one to serve as plain but fashionable seating throughout the less formal rooms at Mount Vernon.

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Date1780-1800

Geography Made - United States

Medium/TechniqueMahogany

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 37 3/8 in. x 21 1/4 in. x 23 in. (94.93 cm x 53.98 cm x 58.42 cm)

Credit LineAcquired through the generosity of the David and Melissa Dvorak family and Jess and Grace Pavey Fund, 2010

Object numberW-4876

DescriptionSlat-back side chair with three pierced serpentine cross-slats looped at center below a matching crest rail with circular, sprigged ears, a trapezoidal seat frame beaded along its top edge, and straight, square or Marlborough front legs beaded on their outside corners joined by H-mounted stretchers and a rear stretcher mounted higher between the rear legs. Crest rail is beaded on the front on each end along its upper and lower edge, but not in the center, and rounded at back; raked-back stiles molded on the front and rounded at back; slats flat on both sides. Seat rails secured with a single peg on the front and rear of the side rails. Raked-back rear legs with double-pegged through tenons and square feet; all legs chamfered on the inside corner. Quarter-round corner blocks with beveled top edge composed of two pieces of wood with vertical grain.

Other terms for this design include: pretzel-back, ladder-back, loop-back, ribbon-back.

Trapezoidal slip-seat frame upholstered in green haircloth.

MarkingsChiseled at the center back of the front seat rail: "XX".

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