Description:
One of two side chairs (see 57.235) made by Eliphalet Chapin (1741-1807), which were owned by Reverend John Marsh (1742-1821) of Wethersfield, Connecticut, who in 1775 married Ann Grant (1748-1838), the daughter of Ann Ellsworth (1712-1783) and Ebenezer Grant (1706-1797), one of the leading citizens of East Windsor, Connecticut. The original set of six chairs were among the furnishings bought by Ebenezer Grant, a prosperous merchant, for their wedding; a descendent has Grant's ledger in which Eliphalet Chapin is credited for a number of pieces of furniture including "By 1/2 doz Claw Foot Cherry Chairs @ 24 / . Bottom'd 2/6", "By 1/2 doz --- ditto --- @ 25/ . ditto ditto", "By 1/2 doz molbor'o ditto @ 25 / ditto 1/10", and 2 arm'd Chairs, one 36/ tother 37 / Bott'd @ 2/6." Eliphalet Chapin trained in Connecticut and worked as a jouneyman for four years in Philadelphia from approximately 1766-1770. There, Chapin learned design and construction features which he brought back to Connecticut. These elements include the use of thru-tenons and two-piece vertical corner blocks on chairs with slip seats. This chair has a carved shell on the center of the shaped crest rail with scrolled terminals; over a pierced volute-carved vasiform splat; an over-the-rail upholstered, trapezoidal-shaped seat; and two front angular cabriole legs terminating in ball-and-claw feet. It is possible that the over-the-rail upholstery and perhaps a more complex splat design may account of the slight variation in the price (24 vs 25) of the two sets of "Claw Foot Cherry Chairs." The location of other chairs from the original sets are known, such as an armchair and side chair in the Barbour Collection at the Connecticut Historical Society and others in private collections such as the four sold at Sotheby's NY in 1986. HD has also the secretary (0282.1) given as wedding presents by Ebenezer Grant, photographs of Ann and John Marsh portraits (0282.2-.5), and a coat of arms done by Ann Grant (1391).
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+57.235A |
