image of object
Photo: Courtesy Newport Restoration Foundation, R.I., 2002.20
Click the image to enlarge

Lolling chair

Object number

RIF2503

Maker

Maker Unknown

Dimensions

40 1/2 × 27 7/8 × 27 1/4 in. (102.87 × 70.803 × 69.215 cm)

Date

1780–1800

Current location

Newport Restoration Foundation, Rhode Island

Geography

Made in Rhode Island
(view a map of Rhode Island)

Medium

Mahogany

Provenance

Nellie S. Whitaker, Washington, D.C. Provost Hubbard (died ca. 1972), New York; Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, May 19–20, 1972, lot 438; sold to Doris Duke (1912–1993) for Newport Restoration Foundation, Rhode Island, 1972; Whitehorne House Museum, Newport Restoration Foundation, Rhode Island, from 1974

Associated names

Nellie S. Whitaker
Prevost Hubbard
Sotheby Parke Bernet
Doris Duke

Construction

The backward-raking stiles are tenoned and wood-pinned to the flat crest rail. The raking, square, rear legs are spliced into the rear stiles, and slightly chamfered on their inside faces below the rectangular stretchers, which are tenoned and wood-pinned to their respective legs and set flush with the outside faces thereof. The medial stretcher meets the side stretchers in half-blind dovetail joints. The flat, serpentine arms have outward-scrolling circular hand-holds, into which are doweled the tops of the flat-sided, round-topped incurvate arm supports, which are tenoned and wood pinned to both the side seat rails and to blocks between the supports and the side seat rails. The top of the proper right arm support is pierced. The square front legs are stop-fluted on their outer faces only. Examined by J.N. Johnson, October 31, 2011; notes compiled by T.B. Lloyd.

Bibliography

Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, Important American Furniture, sale cat. (May 19–20, 1972), 106, lot 438, ill.