Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

1972.063

Place of Origin:

New England, possible NH

Date:

1780-1800

Description:

Side Chair. Chippendale "ladder-" or "pretzel-back" type, with stiles having rounded backs, crest rail with serpentine upper and lower outlines, extending beyond stile at sides and pierced in middle leaving ring at center; two horizontal slats repeating shape and piercing of crest rail. Entire outer edge of back outlined by narrow bead. Upholstered over seat rails with leather using modern tacks. Blocks at rear corners are attached with modern screws and are apparently relatively recent additions. Square front legs molded on fronts and outer sides and having chamfered inner corners. Square rear legs chamfered on inner corner only above stretchers; below side stretcher front surfaces of both legs are cut back at an angle, with all front corners chamfered. Four plain rectangular stretchers--side, back and medial. Metal strap added to underside of right stretcher to support joint with medial stretcher, at which point a break had occurred. Handwritten label pinned and glued to bottom of seat provenance information.

Material:

Wood
Leather
Metal

Dimensions:

H-35.75 W-21.5 D-21.125 inches

Provenance:

Label on bottom of seat reads: "This chair was given to me by Miss Sarah Green of Dover, New Hampshire--She was the daughter of Dr. Ezra Green who was the surgeon under John Paul Jones the great naval officer [of] the Revolution - Miss Green died about 1874 - aged 86 - and left this chair to me by her will - I have reason to think that she inherited this, with other furniture, from her Father + is probably very old." Added in another had is the following: "written by my wife T. (?) B. S. Sr. Dr. Ezra Green was b. Malden, Mass. June 17, 1746: d. Dover, N.H. July 25, 1847."

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase

People:

Green, Ezra (1746-1847), Green, Sarah (c. 1788-1874)