American Hitchcock Turtle Back Rush Seat Side Chair, 1830

Details

Description

A single Upper Connecticut Valley side chair in the Hitchcock style, with a turtle-back crest above a woven rush seat. … Read more A single Upper Connecticut Valley side chair in the Hitchcock style, with a turtle-back crest above a woven rush seat. The oval back splat carries a gilt and bronze powder stencil design showing a pedestal-base bowl of fruit ringed with leaves. Turned front legs taper to small pad feet and join the plain, slightly splayed rear legs by way of a box stretcher with a turned medial rail. The crest terminates in small turned knob finials.

The gilt and bronze powder stencil decoration on the back splat is original to the chair and has held up well, the gold still strong there even where wear is heavier elsewhere on the frame. Wear is otherwise consistent with age and regular use, heaviest at the front seat rail, where the painted surface has worn through to bare wood along the edges. Gilt striping on the rails and leg tops has faded and rubbed away in the same pattern. The rush seat has visible damage (see photo) but is in overall good condition for age and use. Versatile in size, pull it up to a small desk or use it as an everyday side chair.

Upper Connecticut Valley, circa 1820-30.

Dimensions: 17-1/4” W x 19-1/2” D x 34-1/4” H
18” (seat height)
15” (seat depth) See less