Images(3)

Slat Back Arm chair

Period1700 - 1750

MediumMaple, and ash

Dimensions44.5 × 24.75 × 17.5 in. (113 × 62.9 × 44.5 cm)

ClassificationsSeating Furniture

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1936

Object number2016.502

DescriptionA large slat back arm chair consisting of four graduated slats that have straight bottom edges and arched top edges. The top slat has an additional cut out motif in its center. The rear stiles feature ball turnings between the slats. They terminate in large ball finials above a ring turning. The front stiles also have ball turnings above and below the upper stretcher, and also at the base of the arm supports that include a baluster turning and a conical shaped terminal just under the large, shaped hand rest. The arms are undercut. The frame is braced by two sausage turned front stretchers, four plain turned side stretchers, and one similar rear stretcher. The woven rush seat is a replacement, and the chair has been pieced out below the lowest ball turning on the front legs. However, the original lower row of stretchers may have been reused.
Curatorial RemarksFor an arm chair of the same general type attributed to New York, 1675 - 1725, see an article entitled "Early New York Turned Chairs: A Stoelendraaier's Conceit" by Erik Gronning in American Furniture (Milwaukee, WI: Chipstone Foundation, 2001), 103. The finials on the Association's example are closely related to those found commonly on slat back chairs made in central New Jersey up to 1800. See accession numbers 1990.611, 1992.520, and 2017.2.1. The arms on this chair, although unusual, are original to it.NotesAccession records described this chair as "Large rush seat arm chair, heavy ends on arms, vase shaped turning under front of arms, 4 slats in back, round knobs on top of back."

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