Chair (Side chair)

Description

Federal-style, shield-back mahogany side chair made with birch seat rails, satinwood inlay, and reproduction haircloth upholstery. The shield back has an arched crest, two curved sides that meet at a point in the center bottom with five, flat tassel-shaped splats originating from an inlaid, satinwood sunburst, and a rounded bottom with curved supports. The trapezoidal seat is upholstered over the rail and is serpentine at front. The front legs are chamfered on the back inside corner and inlaid with satinwood. The back legs are tapered, chamfered on the front inside corner, and cant backwards. Four stretchers brace the legs, with one medial forward of center, one at each side, and one at back positioned higher than the other three. A printed paper label is located on the inside of the back sea rail: [Stone & / Alexander / BOSTON / 179???]. The chair was originally upholstered in cream-colored, striped silk satin with embroidered small, pastel-colored flowers in vertical stripes, made in Europe around 1800. About 1967, the chair was reupholstered with black horsehair made between 1900-1950 and obtained from Peter Schneider by Joseph Li Volsi of New York. The horsehair was applied with the weft running horizontally across the seat. The fabric is pulled underneath and held with a single row of nails at the front and rear rails and with a double row of nails on each side. The chair fabric is secured by a row of upholstery tacks. Underneath the seat is closely spaced wide webbing.