Chair

Object Name:

Chair

Object ID:

1993.066

Date:

circa 1780

Description:

Chair, side, Chippendale. Birch. Serpentine crest with arch, terminating in flattened ears. Splat has four vertical piercings over a slightly asymmetrical vase. Front legs have a beaded outside edge. Legs joined by three outside square section stretchers, and a turned stretcher in the back. Seat of burlap held by burlap strips. Needlepoint seat cover done in red, green, and yellow, with red-brown leather trim [reupholstered, 2011]. Remnants of reddish finish on bottom of stretchers. Label tacked onto underside of chair reads, "To be the Property / of Everett Goodhue / 73 Buckley Street / Nashua, NH." Associated historic label: "Chair which belonged ---- / President (1st Colonial G--- / Meshech Weare of Hampton Fa---". Associated label: "...c. 1780 originally owned by Meshech Weare first governor of N.H. Chair one of set of original dining room chairs of Governor Weare Mansion, Hampton Falls, N.H. Another chair from set in the Hampton Falls Lib. Obtained from a direct descendant along with full documentation."

Material:

Wood
Textile
Birch
Leather
Burlap

Dimensions:

H-37.875 W-19.75 D-19.5 inches

Provenance:

Chair acquired by Meshech Weare, and subsequently descended to Abigail Weare (1750-1786), to Elizabeth Lang (1771-1857), to Redford Lane (1808-1872), to Julia Smith Lane (1852-1938), to Everett Goodhue (1883-1953), to succeeding owner unknown until acquired c.1984 by Ron Bourgeault for auction. Purchased by NHHS trustees, given to John Page at time of his resignation as NHHS director, 1984. Gifted by John Page to NHHS, 1993.

This chair is identical to one owned by the Seabrook Hist. Soc., and is presumably from the same set.

Credit Line:

Gift of John F. Page

People:

Goodhue, Everett F. (1883-1953), Weare, Meshech (1713-1786), Weare, Mehitable (1719-1787), Weare, Abigail (1750-1786), Lang, Elizabeth (1771-1857), Lane, Redford (1808-1872), Lane, Julia Elizabeth (1852-1938)