Set of twelve side chairs

Furniture

-

Boscobel House and Gardens

Name/Title

Set of twelve side chairs

Entry/Object ID

F 76.4.1–.12

Description

Set of twelve curule-based side chairs from a set that originally numbered at least twenty four. The crest rail rolls backward and is bowed in the center. It is carved with crossed leaf sprays en suite with sofa F 76.10. Two circle segments forming a curule shape joined with a rosette within an octagon form the chair back. The rear stiles are reeded from the stay rail to the crest and have rosettes within squares at the juncture of the reeded stay rail. The reeded seat frame has two front-to-back braces half-dovetailed into front and rear seat rails. The curule shaped legs at each side are joined by a turned medial stretcher. The front legs terminate in gilt brass paw feet. The seat is caned. A framed seat, added to the chair at a later date, is upholstered in yellow wool moreen with blue and off-white woven silk tape. It fits in place atop the caned seat.

Category

Furniture

Acquisition

Accession

F 76.4

Source or Donor

Sarah Anderson

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Credit Line

Purchase, (4) 1970, (8) 1976.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Duncan Phyfe

Attribution

Probably by

Date made

1815 - 1820

Place

City

New York City

State/Province

New York

Country

America

Continent

North America

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 1/12

Transcription

chair number "XII", seat frame "XI". "Benjamin Nov 1925" on inside of proper left medial brace. "Hagen" and "repaired by E F Hagen 2/3 E 26" on outside of proper right medial brace. "May 1, 192" in pencil on inside of proper right seat rail, the last number of the date covered by a new corner block. "Hagen new rosette / new cross" in pencil on inside of front rail.

Material/Technique

Pencil

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 2/12

Transcription

chair number "XXIII", seat frame "VIII".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 3/12

Transcription

chair number "II", seat frame "I".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 4/12

Transcription

chair number "XXII", seat frame "X".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 5/`12

Transcription

chair number "XVII", seat frame "XVII".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 6/12

Transcription

chair number "XVIII", seat frame "XVII".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 7/12

Transcription

chair number "XXIIII", seat frame "XXIIII". "Benjamin Nov 1925" in pencil on outside of proper right medial brace. "Hagen"[illegible] 26" in pencil on inside of proper left medial brace.

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 8/12

Transcription

chair number "XIII", seat frame "VII".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 9/12

Transcription

chair number "XX", seat frame "XX". "Benjamin [illegible]" on outside of proper left medial brace. "Hagen [illegible]" on inside of proper right medial brace.

Type

Inscription

Location

10/12

Transcription

chair number "III", seat frame "III".

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 11/12

Transcription

chair number "XI", seat frame "III". "Hagen 2/3 26" in pencil on inside of front rail.

Type

Inscription

Location

On chair 11/12 [there are two of this number, none with 12/12]

Transcription

chair number "1", seat frame "IIIIII". "Hagen 2/3 E 26" in pencil on inside of proper left seat rail.

Dimensions

Height

31-1/8 in

Width

98 in

Depth

24-1/2 in

Materials

Material

Mahogany, Tulip poplar, Cane, Wool moreen upholstery

Material Notes

Tulip poplar -- medial braces; white pine -- seat frames (check)

Condition

Notes

"The bottom two inches of the rear legs of all chairs are restorations. Upholstered seat caps were added later. 1/12: Circle segments and rosette in chair back replaced in 1925. Reinforcing blocks added to bottoms of leg crossings. 2/12: Proper right rear stile is repaired at seat rail. 3/12: Proper right front leg is restored at the bottom. Tops of rear stiles are replacements. Back of rosette in chair back is reinforced. 4/12: Evidence that this chair once had rear corner blocks. 5/12: New rear corner blocks. 6/12: Legs reglued at crossings. 7/12: Reinforcing blocks added to bottoms of leg crossings. 9/12: Reinforcing blocks added to bottoms of leg crossings. 10/12: New rear corner block remains in proper left; the opposite side is missing. Legs are repaired at crossing. 11/12 [there are two 11/12 numbers]: Tops of stiles are replacements. 11/12: Rosette in chair back is a 1925 replacement."

Provenance

Notes

Believed to have been made for Nathaniel Prime (1768-1840) of New York City, thence by descent to Julia Haskell of Garrison, NY, and Sarah B. Anderson, Hingham, MA, from whom the set was purchased in 1970 and 1976.