Images(4)

Side chair

Date1770-1900

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (possibly)

MediumMahogany, yellow pine (slipseat by micro id) and softwood (possibly fir, cedar, or juniper)

DimensionsOH: 37 ¾”; OW: 24”; OD: 20 ¾”

Credit LineGift of James and Elizabeth Zorn

Object number2024-228

DescriptionSide chair with pierced intertwined splat with diamond quatrefoil at center and carved drapery and tassels; shaped crest rail with broad scrolled center portion with carved gadrooning across top, and sweeping, prominent ears with carved scrolls; trapezoidal seat with upholstered slipseat; cabriole legs with claw and ball feet, acanthus carved knees and knee blocks. Construction features include one piece rear seat rail and shoe and through tenons for the side seat rails through the rear stiles. Replaced front glue blocks, possibly original rear quarter round glue blocks.
Label TextThis side chair and a second privately owned example have a family history of having originally been owned by St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia. Stylistically, the chair relates to Philadelphia side chairs made around 1770, having a through tenon from the side seat rails through the rear stile, and following a British back design that appeared in three known 18th century Philadelphia chairs. Despite the family history and period design, the wood, lack of oxidation, and some construction details suggests this chair might be an early copy of an 18th century chair. It is intriquing to think that St. George Tucker could have owned an 18th century Philadelphia chair in Virginia before the Revolution, from which this chair could have been copied. Hopefully future research will reveal the story behind this chair and its mates. Interestingly, St. George Tucker did purchase 18 chairs from Philadelphia in 1791. The design of this chair would have been out of fashion for that date, suggesting that this chair did not belong to the 1791 order.
MarkingsChair marked “III” on top of front seat rail; slispeat marked “I”.
ProvenanceDescended in the Tucker family. Family history suggests this chair and a second owned by a cousin were originally owned by St. George Tucker of Williamsburg. Per family history line of descent could have been: St George Tucker (1752-1828) and Franes Bland (Randolph) Tucker (1752-1788) of Williamsburg, Virginia; to daughter Anne Frances Bland (Tucker) Coalter (1779-1813); to daughter Elizabeth Tucker (Coalter) Bryan (1805-1856); to daughter Georgia Screven (Bryan) Grinnan (1837-1912); to son Randolph Bryan Grinnan (1860-1942); to daughter Elizabeth Coalter (Grinnan) Jackson (1904-1970); to daughter Mary Shull (Jackson) McCoy (1928-2018); to donor.