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Photo: Courtesy private collection
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Roundabout chair

Object number

RIF5607

Maker

Maker Unknown

Dimensions

32 1/4 × 30 1/4 × 25 1/2 in. (81.92 × 76.84 × 64.77 cm)

Date

1770–1790

Current location

Private Collection

Geography

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

Medium

Mahogany (primary); maple (upholstered rails)

Marks

None

Inscriptions

None

Provenance

Private collection, 1981

Construction

The shaped crest rail is secured to the scrolling arm rail below by two screws in each of the lower members' halves. They are supported by three baluster and ring-turned arm supports which are continuous with the square legs, each chamfered at its interior corner. Between the arm supports are strapwork splats, set into grooves in the arm rail above and the rear seat rails below, where they are further secured by incurvate molded side shoes attached with pins. The seat rails meet each leg in mortise and tenon joints, each exhibiting two pins. The square seat is over-upholstered, with two rows of brass backs. The rectangular stretchers are half-lapped over one another. Underneath their joint is a T-headed nail. Examined by P. E. Kane and W. S. Braznell, August 22, 2012; notes compiled by T. B. Lloyd.