High Back Windsor Arm Chair

Period1770 - 1785

MediumAsh and maple, with tulip poplar seat and oak arm terminals

Dimensions43 × 24 × 19.75 in. (109.2 × 61 × 50.2 cm)

InscribedA handwritten linen label pasted on underside of the seat reads, "8 / 31 / 66 Windsor Armchair - Purch. (25050) Reid - Parker." A handwritten paper label pasted to the underside of the seat reads, "This Windsor chair belonged to my grandfather James Reid born April 6, 1789 died March [?] 8, 1867."

ClassificationsSeating Furniture

Credit LineMarshall P. Blankarn Purchasing Fund, 1966

Object number1992.535

DescriptionThe reddish-brown painted ash and maple Windsor arm chair features a serpentine crest rail ending in scrolled ears, with seven plain turned spindles fitting into a curved medial rail which extends to form arms ending in carved oak scroll knuckles. Four short plain turned spindles run from the medial rail to the seat, along with a pair of baluster turned arm supports. The oval seat rests upon four baluster turned and splayed legs braced with an "H" style, bulbous turned stretcher assembly. The arms originally were plain ended as the outer scrolled oak arm terminals were added later, probably in the nineteenth century.
NotesThe label on the underside of the seat, written by Lydia Reid Parker (1871 - 1966), identifies her grandfather, James A. Reid (1789 - 1867) of Freehold, Monmouth County, as the earliest known owner of this Windsor arm chair. In all likelihood, he was a second owner given the style of the chair. It was made in Philadelphia ca. 1770 - 1785.

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