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Furniture of the Renaissance Revival was heavily carved with architectural details,
cresting, turned and tapered legs, finials and pendants. The two chairs displayed show
the substantiality of the style and exuberance of carving. The chest is a somewhat
simpler and smaller version of storage furniture of the Renaissance Revival, but it still
incorporates important characteristics such as the contoured panels, the mask on the
center panel, cherubs and scrolling acanthus leaves. #561, 562, 559Label Type
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These chairs were selected with extra help from Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen, who
was the director of the South Kensington Museum which houses the original Jacobean
chairs. Early Jacobean furniture was massive in size, square or rectangular, very sturdy,
and built to last. It was characterized by scrollwork, thick columns, and arches.
It is appropriate that MacAlister had particular interest in these chairs as they
represent an art form especially invested in durable quality. This is something that
would express the educational and technical focus of Drexel’s early collection.