Description:
Lolling chair or armchair with an upholstered, flared, hollow back with a straight top and upholstered over-the rail seat; exposed serpentine arm supports in a large molded C-scroll continuing into the two molded and tapered front legs; and two canted rear legs. Chairs of this general form were made in France and England during the early to mid eighteenth century. Although their popularity waned in Europe by the 1760s, it continued strongly here as the form developed into one with tall backs and freestanding slim, tapering wooden arms and legs. New England, especially Massachusetts, was the main center of production. The term "lolling" is suggestive of a genteel posture often pictured in period portraits, or as London's "Gentleman's Magazine" (1778, XLVIII, p. 587) notes: "two armed machine adapted to the indulgent purpose of lolling..." The chair was reupholstered in green wool in 1990; velcro fastenings on the back allow viewing of the original under-upholstery.
Label Text:
The E. H. Williams 1838 Inventory listed: "1 Covered armed Chair ... .20."
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Mahogany; Wool Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+1970 |
