Side Chair
Chair, Side
leather chair Boston chair
circa 1700 – 1710 (Date manufactured/created)
Wood
Measurement Notes: OH 46”
Early side chair of a type known as a “leather chair.” It is made of maple and oak, and has a tall back of turned stiles, a leather-upholstered seat stuffed with marsh grass, and a rectangular back panel frame which would also have been upholstered with leather and marsh grass stuffing (now missing). The front legs and front rail are also turned. Back legs and side and back stretchers are rectangular. Turnings are deep and crisp. Has squat, urn-shaped finials on posts. Leather seat cover, now torn, exposes the grass (salt marsh grass or hay) filling. An old label is affixed to the leather seat. See “marks” field for information on label. It is signed by E. L. Huntington, who would be Esther Lyon Huntington (b. 1819, m. 1853, d. 1904). This is an exceptionally early piece that is in its original state, except for the now missing leather back panel, and one-time addition of casters on the feet. It is possibly the earliest example of furniture in the collection. See accession file for other similar chairs published in books and articles.
Gift of the estate of Catherine B. Burr
1986.12.253