Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

1967.032.002

Place of Origin:

Enfield, NH, probably

Date:

1840-1880

Description:

Side Chair. Shaker manufacture, slat-back type, with three horizontal slats framed between turned cylindrical stiles with delicate, elongated, turned finials in stylized flame form, each encircled by a decorative scribed line at its broadest point. Slats have straight lower edges and arched upper edges which are beveled on the fronts. Slats graduated and bow back. Rush seat. All four legs cylindrical, front ones extending slightly above height of seat rails. All uprights slant backwards and encircled at intervals by scribed lines indicating intersection with other chair components. Bottoms of back legs hollowed, indicating former presence of ball-and-socket tilting devices, held in place by rawhide thongs, part of thong remaining in right leg. Seven turned stretchers, all plain and cylindrical--two on front, two at each side, one at back. Stained red-brown; coloring worn off front stretchers. Tipping buttons missing. Figure "17" stamped on top of both front legs.

Material:

Wood
Grass

Dimensions:

H-40.5 W-18.25 D-18.5 inches

Provenance:

Given together with Shaker side chair. Card originally accompanying gift is said to have read, "Enfield Shaker Chairs / Rush seats by New. (sic) Eng. Reed Co. / Boston. / Used by me at / 58 Elm St. / Ethel rock Millen," with the following on reverse of card: "Put in storage in 1939." Donor gave at various times a large number of items associated with the Enfield Shakers and apparently used by her family in Lebanon, a town adjacent to Enfield.

Credit Line:

Gift of Ethel Rock Millen

People:

Millen, Ethel Rock (1890-1980)

Subjects:

Chairs, Furniture, Shakers