W5RAn best-ok-wknd: side chairs

Medium: Mahogany, red gum, ash secondary wood, modern horsehair upholstery, brass tacks. Shield back with central oval enclosing Prince of Wales feathers above a decorative classical urn centered between two carved feathery stems terminating in volute-like roundels with pendant drapery swags. The drapery is carved naturally with pronounced fringe on the edges. The central plume folds forward and two side plumes fold over themselves, displaying the under sides. The plumes are naturalistically carved. The base of the shield back culminates with a leaf fan consisting of alternating large and small leaves. Stretchers connect the four legs in an “A” shape. Reeding is carved on the front and outer sides of the front legs. Modern horsehair upholstery stretches over the front and side seat rails, with brass tacks applied in a swag pattern consisting of four swags along the front rail and three swags along each side rail. One of a set of nine, possibly made at different times or locations, this chair has characteristic features found also on chairs 1997.150.9, 1997.150.12, and 1997.150.13.
Dates: ca. 1800
Dimensions: 39 1/4 x 21 1/4 x 18 1/2 in. (99.69 x 53.97 x 46.99 cm)
Accession Number: 1997.150.7

Credit Line: Matthew Scott Sloan Collection, Gift of Lidie Lane Sloan McBurney
Image: Overall, 1997.150.6_1997.150.7_transp701.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2004