Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

1976.031.02 b

Creator:

Whidden, Curtin & CompanyRetailer

Place of Origin:

Boston, MA

Date:

1882-1890

Description:

Arm Chair. Victorian "Renaissance Revival" style. One of a pair. Manufactured by Whidden, Curtin & Company, Boston, MA. Upholstered back having its basically rectangular framework exposed. Crest rail extends beyond juncture with rectangular stiles and has ogee-arched upper and lower edges and rounded, upward-projecting ears; sharp transitions between the curves. Upholstery of back extends from arched crest to horizontal rail 3.5" above seat. Arms have overhanging upholstered pads on top and broken S-scroll supports, rectangular in section. Seat upholstered over top edge of rails. Front legs turned in a variation of the trumpet shape. Square back-curving rear legs. Front seat rail and lower back rail have matching central drops of elaborate outline. Rudimentary brackets in angles between crest rail and outer edge of stiles. Decorative bosses at center and ends of crest rail. Molded pyramidal hand grips on tops of arm supports. Raised rectangular panels, with burled veneer, applied within recessed panels on face of stiles and lower rail of back and of front seat rail. Similar raised panels on crest conforming in shape to its outline. A square raised panel (matching others) on each side and on front of arm supports near top. Carved palmettes at each end of all raised rectangular panels. Incised lines on grooves, in geometric patterns, decorating drops, bosses, fronts of arm supports and leg turnings. Green velvet upholstery (not original) bordered with woven tape. Brass casters on feet. Seat frame construction not visible, but use of coil springs is evident. Chalk inscriptions on fabric undercovering of seat: "16" and "NO 3 / BLUE PIPED / WITH GREEN (?)". Printed paper label glued to fabric undercovering: "WHIDDEN, CURTIN & CO., / FURNITURE, BEDDING & CARPETS, / 1,3,5, & 7 WASHINGTON ST. / CORNER HAYMARKET SQUARE, / BOSTON", upper case letters. Walnut and unidentified burled hardwood.

Material:

Wood
Textile
Walnut
Brass
Steel
Cotton

Dimensions:

H-42.375 W-25.375 D-26.625 inches

Provenance:

Among the furnishings of the Crawford House, which were sold at auction July 1976 (#750 in auction catalog).

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase, Crawford House Fund

Subjects:

Resorts, Chairs