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The Stamford Historical Society Presents

BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE
Chairs from the Charlotte D. S. Cruikshank Collection

Description of Chairs

The descriptions below are the work of Margaret B. Caldwell, museum consultant and former Sotheby’s furniture expert who surveyed the Cruikshank furniture collection in 1983.

1. William and Mary Painted Side Chair, English, Late 17th century. With shaped and pierce-carved crest above a caned back and turned baluster stiles, the square caned seat raised on block and ball turned legs joined by a pierced foliate stretcher, on ball feet.
C955F-246
2. William and Mary Painted Bannister-back Armchair. Connecticut, 1740-1760. With arched back above four molded banisters flanked by vase and disk turned stiles with ball finials, the shaped arms ending in downscrolled handrests, rush seat, ball and reel turned legs ending in ball feet; painted black.
C955F-80
3.
William and Mary Bannister-back Armchair William and Mary Bannister-back Armchair. Coastal Connecticut, circa 1740. Shaped cresting pierced with a heart, four molded balusters flanked by turned stiles with urn shaped finials, shaped arms on a flattened vase and ring turned support, rush seat, ball and reel turned legs joined by a vase turned stretcher, ball feet, painted black.
C955F-78
William and Mary Bannister-back Armchair, detail
4. William and Mary Painted Side Chair. New England, circa 1740. With pierced leaf-carved crest above an upholstered leather rectangular splat flanked by turned baluster stiles. The upholstered leather seat raised on ring and ball turned legs joined by a foliate carved stretcher; painted black.
C955F-247
5. One of three similar Queen Anne Painted Side Chairs. Connecticut or Hudson River Valley, 1790-1830. Each with yoke back above solid vase splat, square rush seat, raised on trumpet legs ending in raised pad feet, the legs joined by a turned ball and reel stretcher; painted black.
C955F-71C
6. One of a Pair William and Mary Maple Side Chairs. New England, mid-18th century. With yoke cresting above a solid incurvate vase splat and square rush seat, on block and ball turned legs joined by a double ball and disk front stretcher.
C955F-86a
7. One of a Pair Queen Anne Maple Side Chairs. Hudson River Valley, late 18th century. With yoke cresting above a solid vase splat and square rush seat, on trumpet legs on pad feet joined by a double turned ball stretcher.
C955F-68a
8. Chippendale Mahogany Roundabout Chair. English, 19th century. With a yoke cresting above vase splats and slip seat, the outscrolled arms on baluster supports, with shaped skirt and square tapering legs.
C955F-164
9.
American Empire Curly Maple Side Chair One of a Pair of American Empire Curly Maple Side Chairs. New York, circa 1830. Each with a rectangular slightly concave crest rail above an incurvate foliate carved vase splat and S-scrolled stiles, caned seat, on ring turned outswept legs.
C955F-25a
American Empire Curly Maple Side Chair, detail
10.
Federal Mahogany Dining Chair From a Set of Eight Federal Mahogany Dining Chairs. New York or Connecticut, circa 1790. Comprising two armchairs and six side chairs; with arched crest over a pierced baluster splat carved with a shell and bellflower pendants, outscrolled arms and square slip seats, on square tapering legs joined by an H-stretcher.
C955F-43
Federal Mahogany Dining Chair, detail Federal Mahogany Dining Chair, detail
11. One of a Pair of Chippendale Maple Side Chairs. Probably Pennsylvania, early 19th century. With serpentine cresting with pointed ears above a pierced vase splat and square rush seat, on molded square legs joined by side stretchers.
C955F-167b
12. Chippendale Mahogany Side Chair. Connecticut, 1780-1800. With pierced “Gothic” splat above a slip seat, on square tapering legs.
C955F-15
13. Federal Carved Mahogany Side Chair. New York, 1790-1810. With square back above three pierced and leaf-carved balusters and a square upholstered seat, on square tapering legs on spade feet.
C955F-51
14. One of a Pair of Federal Mahogany Side Chairs. New England, 1780-1800. Each with arched incised crest above a pierced baluster splat inlaid with birch lozenges and an urn, the square slip seat raised on square tapering legs joined by an H-stretcher.
C955F-52a
15. One of Three Similar Windsor Bow-back Side Chairs. American, 19th century. Each with nine turned spindles above incised shaped seats, raised on raking vase turned legs joined by a vase and ring turned stretcher.
C955F-253
16.
Child's High-Back Windsor High Chair Child’s High-Back Windsor High Chair. Pennsylvania, 1755-1775. With serpentine cresting ending in scrolled ears above seven turned spindles and bold incised saddle seat, on raking bulbous-turned legs joined by a footrest and H-stretcher, ending in blunt arrow feet; painted black.
C955F-91

Comment: One of the finest examples of this very rare form of early Windsor chair—very strong turnings and thick raking legs; the black paint appears to be only the second coat over green, one spindle repaired, restraining bar missing, footrest and support replaced, one leg cracked, small nail holes on each leg at footrest height.

17. One of a Pair of Windsor Bird-cage Side Chairs. American, 19th century. With a seven-spindled cage above seven turned spindles and an incised saddle seat, on raking ring and vase turned legs joined by a vase and ring turned stretcher.
C955F-93b
18. Windsor Brace-Back Side Chair. American, 19th century. With serpentine concave crest above nine turned spindles and incised saddle seat, on raking ring and vase turned legs joined by a vase turned stretcher.
C955F-94
19.
Fancy Chair, American, circa 1830 Federal Grey Painted Fancy Side Chair. American, 1820-1830. Rectangular crest rail painted with a landscape above a pierced lattice horizontal splat and white painted rush seat, on ring turned circular legs on ball feet; gilt highlights.
C955F-54
Fancy Chair, American, circa 1830, detail

Fancy Chair, American, circa 1830, detail

  
20. Fancy Chair. American, circa 1830. One of set of four, painted finish grained in stylized rosewood finish, gilt highlights, rush seat, bar and bell turned horizontal splat, thin outswept legs.
C955F-57d
21. Federal Painted Fancy Side Chair. American, mid-19th century. With rectangular cresting painted with a shell and foliage above a bar and ball splat, rush balloon-shaped seat on circular tapering legs ending in ball feet; painted cream with green, yellow and red decoration.
C955F-56
22.
Hitchcock Child's Side Chair Hitchcock Child’s Side Chair. Connecticut, early 19th century. One of three similar chairs, painted black, gilt stenciled decoration; rush seat.
C955F-219
Hitchcock Child's Side Chair, detail  
23. Chippendale Cherry and Maple Ladder Back Armchair. New England, 1750-1820. With four arched horizontal splats flanked by circular stiles, outscrolled handrests on baluster supports, the square rush seat on ring-turned legs joined by a reel-turned double front stretcher. C955F-154
24.
Federal Inlaid Mahogany Side Chair One of a Pair of Federal Inlaid Mahogany Side Chairs. Massachusetts or Connecticut, circa 1800. Shield-shaped back with three patera-inlaid baluster splats, the square seat overupholstered with brass tacks, raised on square inlaid tapering legs joined by an H-stretcher.
C955F-50b
Federal Inlaid Mahogany Side Chair, detail Federal Inlaid Mahogany Side Chair, detail
25. Chippendale Mahogany Side Chair. Philadelphia, circa 1770. With serpentine crest rail centered by a carved shell and continuing to knuckled ears, pierce carved interlaced splat, square slip seat, on shell-carved cabriole legs on claw and ball feet.
C955F-17
Introduction to the Exhibits
Best Seats in the House
Description of Chairs
Gracious Living in Stamford
Hallway Displays from the Collection
Pictures from the Opening Reception
Victorian Tea		 Staircases
Living Rooms
Dining
Sleeping
Books and Music
Life at Home 		Henri Bendel Mansion
Denehurst
Downtown
Judd Home
Wilbur Lewis Homes
Marion Castle 		Blachley Lodge
Linden Lodge
Katharine Merritt's Photo Album
By the Water
Strawberry Hill
Wardwell Homes

Books

The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director
by Thomas Chippendale
ISBN 0486216012
Paperback

in association with Amazon.com, click here

 The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide
by A. Hepplewhite and Co, Hepplewhite and Company Staff, George Hepplewhite
ISBN 0486221830
Paperback

in association with Amazon.com, click here

 Classical Revival Furniture Designs (The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing)
by Thomas Sheraton
Paperback

in association with Amazon.com, click here

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