Armchair
Manufacturer
James Woodward
(American, 1769 - 1839)
CultureAmerican
Dateca. 1799
MediumMahogany and yellow pine, with horsehair upholstery
DimensionsOverall: 35 x 21 1/2 x 18 in. (88.9 x 54.6 x 45.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Miss Grace Irvine
Object number31.4.1
Not on view
DescriptionFederal Norfolk armchair with upholstered seat. Square back with pierced center splat consisting of three vertical members, the center one with four reeds dividing into four splayed, pierced ribs at the top. Outer two members are carved with a swag. S-curved armrests are carved with two leaves at the rear and with paterae at their scroll terminals. Arm supports sweep upward in a C-curve to meet the arm rests. Front legs are plain square tapers and legs connected with H-stretchers. Seat has outward-curved side and front seat rails w/ over-the-rail upholstery.Label TextAttributed to James Woodward American, 1769–1839 Armchair, ca. 1799 Mahogany and yellow pine, with horsehair upholstery Like most designers of his day, Norfolk cabinetmaker James Woodward studied pattern books when creating decorative motifs like the carved urn and garlands on the back of this armchair. Gift of Miss Grace Irvine 31.4.1 Exhibition HistoryMyers House "The Norfolk Rooms," Willoughby-Baylor House, Norfolk, VA, opened August 16, 2014.Published ReferencesRonald L. Hurst and Sumpter Priddy III, "The Neoclassical Furniture of Norfolk, Virginia, 1770-1820", THE MAGAZINE ANTIQUES, Vol. 137, No. 5 (May 1990), 1147-1153, Color Plate No. 16, 1153. Thomas R. J. Newbern and James R. Melchor, _Classical Norfolk Furniture, 1810-1840_ (Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2004), 26. Jeff Harrison, _Collecting with Vision: Treasures From the Chrysler Museum of Art_ (London: D. Giles Ltd., 2007), 154, fig. 196. ISBN: 978-0-940744-72-1
Pair/Pair