Images(2)

Panel Back Armchair

Date1675-1725

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania (probably)

MediumBlack walnut

DimensionsOH:40 7/8"; OW:21 1/2"; OD:17 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-134

DescriptionAPPEARANCE - arm chair with two board seat rounded, along front edge; double back panels, flat on the front and chamfered on the reverse, framed with three vertical stiles (two outer formed by leg posts and one at center) and two horizontal rails (one at seat level and one forming the crest), ovolo-molded on the outer edges and flat chamfered on the interior edges that frame the panels: below the lower rail is a 3/8" filler strip that extends to the seat; outer molding ends at seat, and rear posts are squared down to floor (they are cut from one piece of wood, straight on the reverse and tapered on the front above the seat); plain seat rails, stretchers and angled side stretchers that run from the rear posts to the underside of the seat rail ront stretcher (flat on lower edge and double-serpentine shaped on the top); rectangular a rms, rounded along top edge and at front, pass over the turned front leg posts that alternate between incised flattened disks and blocks with beveled upper corners; feet appear to have been a flattened ball.

CONSTRUCTION - panels grooved into outer frame members, and set into a rabbet on the reverse of the center stile; crest rail is through-tenoned into the stiles, lower rail is simply tenoned into the stiles; arms through tenoned to rear posts and mortised onto the tops of the front posts; stretchers and seat rails tenoned into posts; seat boards flush nailed to rails; arm and rear panel joints pinned with 1/4" round dowels.Mark(s)None found.