Antique 19th Century New England Ladderback Side Chair With Lemon Top Finials

Description

With our compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering this charming and rustic antique side chair. This … more With our compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering this charming and rustic antique side chair. This example is a wonderful New England specimen likely made in the second or third quarter of the 19th century. As with many of these country chairs several native woods are used in the construction with Oak, Pine, and Birch comprising the entirety of this particular chair. Quite often these primitive chairs were made from lumber found on the property for which they were made and may feature woods such as ash and chestnut when they are found in New England. This chair demonstrates a superiority in construction not typically found on similar examples with tight pegged construction featured where the curved ladderback supports meet the uprights of the chair frame. Twin stretcher supports span the base of the chair with a single back stretcher featured along the lower backside. The chair features well formed legs, a woven rush seat, and interesting turned finials styled in the form of lemon tops. Lemon turnings are a hallmark of early Federal design with the motif featured on fireplace fenders and andirons commonly. It may have been that this chair was made to sit near a fireplace hearth with matching lemon stylizations. This chair is an interesting example of primitive New England craftsmanship and is well deserving of a colonial home where it can accent a collection of antique furniture and serve as a fascinating conversation piece for years to come. The chair can be sat on within reason however in this day and age we typically expect these early chairs to accent the interior of a home and serve as a historical heirloom. This chair measures 20" wide x 15" deep and stands 37" tall up to the finial tops and features a 15" seat height up to the rush woven seat. less