Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

1978.019.02

Creator:

Shorey, Stephen

Place of Origin:

Rochester, NH

Date:

1845-1862

Description:

Side Chair. "Thumb-back" Windsor type, with slightly bowed, rectangular crest rail framed between turned cylindrical stiles. Fronts of stiles are flattened except at bottoms and curve back at tops to form terminals often known as "rabbit ears." Four vertical turned and tapering spindles, each having a vestigial ball turning below center. Seat of white pine with straight front, rounded back and curved sides. Stiles and spindles tenoned into back of seat following its rounded outline, stiles being tenoned through seat. Seat has beveled lower edges and a slightly rounded upper edge at front. Decorative groove following curved line of spindles at their inner edge. Four turned, splayed legs, each plain, cylindrical and tapered at ends. Four turned cylindrical stretchers--front, back and sides. Stencilled mark, in upper case letters (except first line) on bottom of seat: "FROM / STEPHEN SHOREY, / CHAIR MAKER, / ROCHESTER, / N.H. / WARRANTED". Painted black with tortoiseshell graining and yellow striping. Stencilled bronze floral decoration on crest rail, within rectangular yellow border. Paint worn on stretchers. Evidence that ball turnings of stiles were formerly bronzed on fronts. Illegible chalk initials on bottom of seat. Birch and white pine. One of a pair.

Material:

Wood
Birch
Pine

Dimensions:

H-33.5 W-17.625 D-16.5 inches

Provenance:

Purchased at an auction of Americana at the NH Highway Hotel, Concord, NH.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase

People:

Shorey, Stephen (c. 1808-1879)