Description:
One of a pair of lolling chairs or armchairs with upholstered back with serpentine top and upholstered over-the rail seat. The exposed serpentine arm supports are a large molded C-scroll joined to the front tops of side rails. The front legs are straight, tapered, and fluted and the two flared rear legs are joined by two straight plain side stretchers and a medial stretcher. 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 chairs were reupholstered with new red material in 1990.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Brass; Mahogany; Wool Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+58.029.1 |
