Chair, Rocking

Object Name:

Chair, Rocking

Object ID:

1978.027.02

Creator:

Wilder, Josiah P. (1801-1873)

Place of Origin:

New Ipswich, NH

Date:

circa 1830

Description:

Rocking chair. "Salem rocker" type, with bowed crest rail extending beyond stiles at ends and having a central rectangular tablet with side pieces curving down on both their upper and lower edges--a variation of the "step-down" type of crest. Turned cylindrical stiles each with front and back surfaces flattened near top and with incircling, decorative groove 4 1/2 inches above seat. Seven vertical, turned and tapering spindles with conforming curve and encircling grooves corresponding with those on stiles. S-curved arms with rolled ends, each supported by two tapering spindles, decorated with corresponding grooves. Slightly hollowed, round seat of white pine. Stiles and spindles being tenoned into back of seat following its rounded outline, stiles and main arm supports being tenoned through seat. Front edge of seat is rounded on upper surface and beveled on lower. Decorative groove following curved line of spindles at their inner edge. Four splayed, bamboo-turned legs tapering to juncture with seat. Four bamboo-turned stretchers--front, back and sides. Rockers original. Branded mark on bottom seat "J. P. WILDER / WARRANTED", upper case letters. Has been stripped and stained; traces of former black and yellow paint. Varnish crazed. Arms tenoned through stiles of back. Several junctures reinforced with nails. Some checks in seat and right rocker. Initials "DKP" stamped twice into bottom of seat. Small indentations near top of several vertical members of back, evidently created by clamping during bending process. Arms birch. Beech(?), birch and white pine.

Material:

Wood
Birch
Pine

Dimensions:

H-42.875 W-21.875 D-27 inches

Provenance:

Chair acquired by donor at auction of Dr. Byron Douglas Pease, Greenville, New Hampshire. Mark on chair, "DKP," may be that of collector, Donald K. Packard. Donald K. Packard (1893-1974) summered in New Ipswich, NH, where he collected locally-made furniture and New Hampshire clocks.

Credit Line:

Gift of Beatrice Joy Packard

People:

Pease, Packard, Donald (1893-1974), Wilder, Josiah P. (1801-1873)