Walnut Corner Chair
Frederick County, Maryland
Unkown Maker
Circa 1760 – 1780
32” Tall x 18” Square
Commentary: This corner chair belongs to a well documented group of side, arm and corner chairs that have been attributed to a single Frederick County, Maryland shop in the years prior to the Revolutionary War. Although the identity of the craftsman has yet to be discovered, the similarities in construction, design and histories of ownership provide conclusive evidence that the group of chairs share a common origin. As with other chairs in the group, this corner chair has box stretchers, single pegged seat rails, no pegs in the stretchers, cove molded shoes topped by quarter round moldings, similarly shaped pillow crest rails and large, flat scrolled hand holds. This chair is particularly noteworthy in that it is the first of the group to be identified that displays all of the construction features that define the group with the exception of the distinctive splat nodule. The pieced splat in this chair is, however, similar in profile to the other chairs in the group and represents a variation in design most likely in response to changing preferences among the shop’s clientele.
Condition: The chair survives in excellent overall condition with its original yellow pine slip seat. The original nailed support rails for the seat were removed, probably at the time the modern corner braces were installed. There is evidence of old repairs to the crest rail and it is likely that the last several inches of the proper right arm support were replaced at some time in the 19th century.
Price: Sold
