Description: One of two rod-back Windsor side chairs in maple and yellow-poplar, painted black over dark red, with yellow stripes over the original gold. The chair was probably part of the wedding suite of Seth Sheldon (1787-1860) and Caroline Stebbins (1789-1865), married in 1810, who were the parents of George Sheldon (1818-1916), Deerfield's town historian, whose granddaughter, Hazel Sheldon Martin, donated the chair. Made of stockpiled parts, Windsor chairs incorporate turned and shaved components morticed into a carved plank seat to make a lightweight and sturdy chair. The paint scheme obscured the variety of woods and often imitated costly materials, like red leather for the seat. The rod-shaped crest rail, which became popular around 1800-1810, is over seven tapered spindles, saddle seat with a slightly peaked front, four splayed legs with bamboo turnings, and a medial and two side stretchers.
Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+53.042 |