Mid 19th Century Early American "Fancy" Side Chair

Details

Description

On offer is an Early American "Fancy" side chair, heavily inspired by or produced in the style of the famous … Read more On offer is an Early American "Fancy" side chair, heavily inspired by or produced in the style of the famous Hitchcock Chair Company, and dating to the mid-19th century.
This chair is likely constructed from native American hardwoods—maple, birch or fruitwood—and finished with a dark stain. The seat material is woven rush made from twisted natural cattails or bulrushes. It has been wrapped directly over the wood rails in a traditional four-triangle envelope pattern.
The top horizontal piece features a central raised "pillow" section flanked by decorative turned rings. The horizontal middle backrest features an American Empire or Sheraton-influenced scroll design, often called a "turtle-back" splat. The upper side posts feature delicate scoring, and the front legs are decoratively turned with distinct bulbous rings near the top, tapering downward.
A thick, flat horizontal wood brace connects the front legs, contrasting with the thinner turned rungs on the sides and back to stabilize the frame.
There are visible remnants of a dark finish, though the original gold-leaf stenciling typical of this style has worn away completely from decades of handling.
The hand-woven rush seat exhibits authentic age and structural sagging, but the core weave remains intact enough to reveal the precision of the original craftsman.
Signature/Maker’s Mark: Nonexistent. See less