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Side Chair

Decorative Arts and Design

Although this chair is rendered in the late Neoclassical style, it is not made of the costly, imported exotic woods such as mahogany or rosewood that are seen in related furniture in the previous galleries. Rather, the chair was intended for a somewhat lower economic market and is made inexpensive local poplar and decorated with painted stencil decoration. Painted furniture was most often black or red, in imitation of expensive lacquer finished that Western craftsmen learned from Asian examples.

CULTURE American
MAKER Unknown
MEDIUM Painted poplar, cane
DATES 1825-1835
DIMENSIONS Height: 31 1/2 in. (80 cm) Seat: 17 3/4 x 15 1/4 in. (45.1 x 38.7 cm)
ACCESSION NUMBER 50.141.122c
CREDIT LINE Bequest of Mrs. William Sterling Peters
PROVENANCE Prior provenance not yet documented; prior to 1948, acquired by Marion Louise Smith Peters of Brooklyn, NY; 1950, bequeathed by Marion Louise Smith Peters to the Brooklyn Museum.
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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Painted and stenciled American Empire-style side chair with caned seat. Chair is painted black with gold stenciling on front legs, stretcher, seat frame, stiles and lower rail of back. The top rail is wide and slightly bowed. On this is painted a pair of swans drinking from a fountain. Sprays of flowers and vines are behind each swan. The background of the painting is ochre-colored. Condition: Fairly good. Report on file.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
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