Armchair
Artist/maker unknown, American
Geography:
Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Period:
ColonialDate:
1745-1755Medium:
Walnut; yellow poplarDimensions:
42 1/2 x 27 x 22 1/2 inches (108 x 68.6 x 57.2 cm)Curatorial Department:
American Art
1955-69-1Credit Line:
Purchased with the Thomas Skelton Harrison Fund, 1955
Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
Period:
ColonialDate:
1745-1755Medium:
Walnut; yellow poplarDimensions:
42 1/2 x 27 x 22 1/2 inches (108 x 68.6 x 57.2 cm)Curatorial Department:
American Art
* Gallery 102, American Art, first floor (Flammer Gallery)
Accession Number:1955-69-1Credit Line:
Purchased with the Thomas Skelton Harrison Fund, 1955
Label:
This armchair descended in the Powel family of Philadelphia; it is thought that it originally belonged to Samuel Powel, Sr. (1673-1756).
During the late 1740s and 1750s, chairmakers further developed the form and ornamentation of the cabriole-leg, compass-seat chair. They decorated the curved, scroll-cut back slat with carved scroll volutes or with pierced designs, anticipating the lighter proportions, verticality, and ornamentation of the coming Rococo style. These elaborations continued until chairmakers abandoned the compass-seat shape for trapezoidal seat frames.
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