Banister-back Arm Chair

Furniture

Lincoln County Historical Association

Name/Title

Banister-back Arm Chair

Description

Wooden banister-back arm chair with five banisters and a rush seat. Arms are scrolled. Is in a modified William & Mary style. Front legs turned. The two front stretchers are turned whereas the side and back stretchers are plain. Crest rail is slotted into place and pegged at rear. Stiles end with mushroom turned caps. Stiles are turned but the lower part is left round without further turning. Painted black. Arms worn on top to natural wood. The five banisters with the front side flat. The two boldly turned front stretchers show signs of considerable wear. Two straight stretchers on each side and one low stretcher in back.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

American, unknown

Role

Cabinetmaker

Date made

1730 - 1750

Time Period

mid 18th century

Place

Region

New England

Country

United States

Continent

North America

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

On back of the lower banister support

Transcription

"ON LOAN FROM /Property of / W. Waters"

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

105.2 cm

Width

59.1 cm

Depth

41 cm

Dimension Notes

Height is to top of stiles. Width and Depth at the seat

Dimension Description

Height of seat from the floor

Height

44.5 cm

Dimension Description

Height of front legs

Height

71.5 cm

Materials

Material

Wood

Material Notes

Legs and back including the banisters are likely maple whereas the arms and stretchers are likely ash.

Colors

Color

Black

Color Notes

The chair is painted black which appears to be original.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Notes

The two right hand side stretchers have been replaced and are doweled through the front and rear legs and pegged from the side. The bottoms of the legs are replaced including the front ball feet. One projecting curved end of the crest rail broken off and glued into place.

General Notes

Note

Notes: Archives, CHH collection, white binder. "Colonial Homes, August 1997," Chapman-Hall House, Kristen Rohrs, p. 60. Photo of kitchen shows this chair against west wall, south of door "to borning room." "Chairs include two 1720's bannister backs. . ." Status: OK