Chair, Easy

Object Name:

Chair, Easy

Object ID:

1977.034.08

Place of Origin:

Portsmouth, NH

Date:

1815-1825

Description:

Lolling chair, Portsmouth, NH. Upholstered arm chair, of type known as a lolling chair. High upholstered back with serpentine crest. Seat has serpentine front and is upholstered over the rails. Open arms of serpentine form with hollowed upper surfaces and sharp transition to angular handholds. Serpentine arm supports with rounded front surfaces. Carved and turned front legs, each having a reeded base turning below a leaf-carved neck with a punched ground; and a ring-turned anklet above a tapered cylindrical foot with a button terminal. Square outcurving back legs. Upholstery is a modern striped fabric in yellow and yellow-green. Upholstery does not extend around top of legs. Seat rails birch. Four triangular corner blocks of pine attached with glue and nails. One large and three small holes in bottom of each foot, indicating former use of casters. Remnants visible, on underside of arms, of earlier dark finish. Numerous imperfections and patches in wood. Several short cracks. Junctures between arms supports and legs reinforced with nails. Mahogany, birch and white pine. (Style also called a "Martha Washington" chair.)

Material:

Wood
Textile
Birch
Mahogany
Pine
Metal

Dimensions:

H-45.25 W-24.5 D-26.5 inches

Provenance:

Said to have a history of ownership in the Durham, NH, area.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles L. and Jane Kaufmann