image of object
Photo: Courtesy Newport Historical Society, R.I., inv. no. L81.2.1; photo by Rhode Island Furniture Archive
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Easy chair

Object number

RIF5718

Maker

Maker Unknown

Dimensions

Height, crest: 47 5/8 in. (120.97 cm) Height, rear post: 44 1/4 in. (112.4 cm) Height, seat: 16 in. (40.64 cm) Width, arms: 34 5/8 in. (87.95 cm) Width, feet: 30 1/2 in. (77.47 cm) Depth, feet: 25 3/8 in. (64.45 cm) Depth, wing: 13 in. (33.02 cm)

Date

1740–60

Current location

Newport Historical Society

Geography

Probably made in Newport, Rhode Island
(view a map of Rhode Island)

Medium

Walnut (stretchers and front legs); maple (rear legs)

Marks

Unknown

Inscriptions

Unknown

Provenance

Possibly owned by William Ellery (1727–1820), Newport, Rhode Island. The Old State House, Newport, Rhode Island; transferred to Newport Historical Society, Rhode Island, 1981

Associated names

William Ellery
Old State House

Construction

The side stretchers are joined to the front and rear legs with slightly off-set, double-shouldered tenons, pinned at the front (through pins) and back with square pins. The stretchers are flush with outside of stiles. The medial stretcher is tenoned into side stretchers and the underside of the joints are pinned.

Bibliography

Joseph K. Ott, Daniel Snydacker, and Deborah Walker, "Masterpieces of Simplicity: Newport Desks and Chairs, 1740–1780," Newport History: Bulletin of the Newport Historical Society 60 (Fall II 1987): 183, ill.