Description:
Mixed-style side chair purportedly owned by Colonel Israel Williams (1709-1788), originally of Hatfield, Massachusetts. Col. Williams (the older brother of Dorothy Williams who became the wife of Parson Jonathan Ashley of Deerfield), was prominent in the French and Indian wars and an outspoken Tory at the time of the Revolution. He was an older brother of Dorothy Williams - who married Rev. Jonathan Ashley, minister of Deerfield. (See George Sheldon, History of Deerfield, vol. II, p. 378; and Slyvester Judd, History of Hadley, p. 603). After the Queen Anne vase-shaped backs were introduced into the colonies in the 1720s, they were often combined with the older William and Mary rush-seated, block-and-vase turned bases that were popular on banister back chairs. This mixed style was popular through the eighteenth century; the key to their dating is based on their base turnings. The chair, which has been repainted black, has a broad flattened, yoked neck crest rail over a broad vase-shaped back splat and molded, shaped stiles; old woven splint seat - an early replacement; turned front legs, with an extra reel turning just below the usual vase turning on upper part of the front legs ending in square Spanish or brush feet; elongated ball and ring turned stretchers; and rectangular back legs ending in slightly flared, chamfered feet.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+1905 |
