Chair, Rocking

Object Name:

Chair, Rocking

Object ID:

1960.007

Creator:

Bishop, Job (possible)

Place of Origin:

New Lebanon, NY, or Hancock, MA (probably); possibly Canterbury, NH

Date:

1800-1850

Description:

Shaker Rocking Armchair. "Slat-back" type, with four horizontal slats framed between turned cylindrical stiles having pointed finials supported on tall necks with two distinct sections, upper one slightly larger in diameter. Slats have straight lower edges, very slightly arched upper edges, bow back slightly and are graduated almost imperceptibly. Splint seat. Flat, curved arms with outward scrolled, round terminals. Cylindrical front legs taper above seat rails, forming arm supports, swelling out again just below juncture with arms. Rear legs also cylindrical. All vertical members are encircled at intervals by scribed lines indicating intersection with other chair components. Rockers original. Seven turned stretchers, all plain and cylindrical--two on front, two on each side, one at back. Two breaks in upper surface of splint seat. Both right legs split and repaired. Stained birch stretchers and rockers. Crayon figures on inside of left rocker: "2/28/286". Maple of "curly" grain.

Material:

Wood

Dimensions:

H-45.125 W-23 D-25.375 inches

Provenance:

Donor stated that chair was picked up in Canterbury, NH, and presumably made by the Canterbury Shakers. Stylistic factors, however, suggest that this chair was probably made in the New Lebanon-Hancock area. Shaker furniture is known to have been sent from one community to another. However, it is also known that at least one Shaker chair maker, Job Bishop, moved from New Lebanon to Canterbury. This chair could represent his early work or his influence on other craftsmen in Canterbury before the distinctive Canterbury chair type evolved.

Credit Line:

Gift of Robert W. Upton

People:

Bishop, Job, Upton, Robert W. (1884-1972)