CHAIRS THROUGH THE AGES   

 

It was not until the 16^th century that chairs came into popular use.  Previously chairs were reserved for kings and those of authority ("the chair recognizes...").  Common folk sat on stools, benches and storage boxes.  Their early chairs were of simple design, had a back, sometimes arms and upholstery.

 Ancient - Decorated with ivory or ebony, often carved and gilded.

  Gothic - 1100-1400 -Pointed arch and carved ornament.  High backs reserved for the rich and mighty.

 

Tudor - 1500-1550 - Oak was the primary wood; carvings of roses and foliage.

 

 

  Jacobean - 1600-1700 -Mortise and tenon technique, legs low and braced, metal strapping, walnut curves and scrolls and upholstery of brocade, velvet and needlepoint.

 

  Renaissance - walnut and chestnut woods, inlay and veneers, velvet upholstery.

  Louis XIII -ebony, bone, metal and ivory inlay, silk and velvet brocades, gold fringe and gilt.

 

William and Mary - comfort important, thus contoured backs; lacquer, marquetry, painting and rich needlework materials were used.

 

Queen Anne - 1700's- smaller, simpler, narrower.  Legs terminated in club, hoof or spade foot.  Drop in seats popular.

 

 

 

 

Louis XIV - Tortoise-shell veneer, brass inlays, tapestries.

  Louis XV- Rococo - luxury, glitter, frivolity - doves, cupids, women, silks and mother-of-pearl, lacquer.

Chippendale - mahogany, backs were pierced splats with square tops, angular legs, and seats that widen toward the front. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Adam Brothers - Small, straight tapered legs, some oval backs, low relief carvings of urns and fans, wool plush, heavy silks and brocades.

  Louis XVI - emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines, legs straight, tapered and fluted.

  Sheraton - Satinwood inlay, low relief decorations of rosettes, ribbons and bell flower; beginning of the Windsor chair.

  Hepplewhite - Light and delicate look, but sturdy.  Rounded back and decorated with wheat, feathers or ferns.  Painted fruits and flowers on black laquer.  Exotic woods were    used for inlay and marquetry.  Legs slender and tapering.  Wing chairs!

  Empire - Back to classical age with stark frames and ancient mountings of winged figures, helmeted warriors and cameo medallions, vivid colored upholstery.

 

American Categories 1600-1940:

Colonial (1620-1775)- Oak, pine, maple, cherry construction. Slat backs with seats of rush or splint; adapted by the Shakers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolutionary, Federalist and Empire (1775-1850)- Windsor style and rocking chairs with arms and rounded tops. Spindle backs, high upholstered backs and tapered square legs. 

 

 

 

Neo-classical style - Victorian - Fringes, velvets, carvings, bent woods, padded seats,  upholstered  arms.

 

 

 

 

 

   Modern - Recliners, molded plastic.

  

A Pictorial Archive of Woodcuts & Engravings, Harold H. Hart, 1977, Dover Publications

  Other Furniture Resources consulted for this exhibit..                  

  Picture History of Furniture  Frank Davis, 1958, Macmillan Company

 Three Centuries of Furniture in Color  H. D. Molesworth & John Kenworthy-Browne, 1969, Viking Press

  Sotheby’s Concise Encyclopedia of Furniture Christopher Payne, 1989, Harper & Row

CollCollection Encyclopedia of American Furniture, Volume I

The Dark Woods of the Nineteeth Century  Robert W. & Harriet Swedberg, 1991, Collector Books

 Furniture 2 Smithsonian Illustrated Library  Prepared by the Cooper Hewitt Museum, William C. Ketchum, 1981

 

WMHS has on display:

Late 19^th Century Walnut chair with burl veneer inlay, with cane seat covered with leather.

Late 19^{th0in 5.5in 6.0in right 6.5in">Late 19th Century Child’s Rocker with a cane seat}

Early colonial copy chair with woven rush seat

Early 1900's Doll Chair

Teeter Toter Child’s Chair

1940's Potty Chair

Outhouse Seat for child

1940's Curved back chair with spindles

1930's Child’s High Chair

1940's Bent back chair with spindles

Dining Chair with leather seat

Late 1800's High Chair with tray

Square seat chair - plain construction

1930's Unusual Child’s Chair

Twig Chair made in the Adirondacks

                B Manchin 4/2006