Side Chair
Walnut
Attributed to Shop of Thomas Miller
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Circa 1770
16.75″ D x 21.5″ W x 38.5″ H 16.75 H at seat
This handsome side chair descended in a family with links to both the Thornton and Fitzhugh families with multiple ties to Fredericksburg and King George County, Virginia. It is nearly identical to MESDA S-29734 and may have been from the same set.( location of set number marking) as a Miller arm chair S-5928 that has a history in the Falmouth Masonic Lodge. The shoe construction, undercut rear rail (similar to Walker chairs), dimensions, form of astragal lobes, crest rail shaping, and struck beading across the crest rail and down the posts are common characteristics linking these chairs to the Thomas Miller shop.
The chair survives with a rich dark old surface and elements (heavily worn and fragile) of what may have been its original slip seat.
