Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

1937.006.01

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

1860

Description:

Arm Chair. Made by the workmen of Lewis Downing & Sons, Concord, NH; 1860. "Elizabethan Revival" style. Mahogany, with high arched crest rail of elaborate outline framed between turned stiles; crest is pierced and carved with central cabochon and flanking scrolls; one acanthus scroll on either side culminates in a grotesque mask, viewed in profile. Stile of back is composed of spiral and block elements, the latter being carved on face with a shallow pattern of stylized foliage; turned and fluted finials. Vertically oriented oval back panel upholstered with leather and surrounded by a framework of carved and pierced rail of elaborate outline. Arms are upholstered with leather on upper edges, have grotesque mask terminals, and are supported by spiral turned extensions of front legs. Four spiral turned legs with cylindrical feet and casters. Blocks at juncture of legs with seat, those at front carved in same manner as on stiles of back. Seat upholstered over top edge of rails with leather. All leather upholstery bordered with leather bands secured with conical-headed brass tacks. Upholstery of back panel and arms buttoned, buttoning on back forming a cross-hatched diaper pattern. Seat frame construction not visible, but use of coil-springs is evident. Adhesive tape label on back of crest with ink inscription: "MADE BY WORKMEN OF THE ABBOT-DOWNING CO. AS A GIFT TO LEWIS DOWNING ON HIS RETURN FROM HIS FIRST TRIP TO CALIFORNIA TO SELL COACHES IN THE LATE 1830S.", followed by accession information. [The date on the label is incorrect; the chair was presented in 1860.]

Material:

Wood
Leather
Textile

Dimensions:

H-51.375 W-26.25 D-27.25 inches

Provenance:

Made by the workmen of Lewis Downing & Sons, Concord, NH, and presented to Lewis Downing (1792-1871), May 18, 1860, on his return from a trip to California.

Label attached to chair: "Chair made by the men at the Abbot-Downing Shop as a gift for Lewis Downing on his return from his first trip (around the Horn) to California in the late thirties." [Note that date is incorrect.]

In his Last Will and Testament (December 27, 1872), Lewis Downing left "the large arm chair presented to me by the shop hands," to his son Alonzo Downing (1822-1877). Alonzo's daughter, Lucy G. Downing (1866-1964) donated the chair to the Society.

Credit Line:

Gift of Lucy G. Downing

People:

Downing, Lewis (1792-1873), Downing, Alonzo (1822-1877), Downing, Lucy G. (1866-1964)