chair identification

Chris J

Member
Hi all, I apologize that my first post is a request for help, I've really enjoyed reading the forum and look forward to learning from you all in the future.

I have a chair that was passed down in my family. The chair was purchased in the late 40's or early 50's to the best of my knowledge (before my time). It was re-upholstered in the late 70's or early 80's. That's about all I know. Someone suggested the the inlay work on the crest may represent the goddess "Diana/Artemis the Archer", which seems likely. This is a family piece so I'm not really concerned with value, but would love to have an idea of origin/age if possible.

Photos here, and I can take more if needed:

http://www.chrisdjones.com/misc/chair/

thanks!

Chris
 
Hi Chris,
I am not a real expert on this, but I do know a bit about carving. I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty that the carving is not of European or American origin. The inlay work, while nicely shaded and very well crafted, also indicates an origin that would remove it from the list of important historical works. Most importantly, the carving indicates some patterning that would place its origins in Asia, most likely India or Pakistan. When the British expansion recognized the high value of the Indian craftsmanship there was a huge effort to employ this source of cheap labor to produce European carving. However, as ensconced in traditional methods as they are, the Indian and Pakistani carvers produced then and still do today, a distinctive pattern of their own. The leaf (particularly the Acanthus), the volute and the quatrain flora patterns all give away this origin. Today the craftsmen of India are still relied upon to supply wooden parts to furniture manufacturers who sell to the unwitting in the states.
Concerning this particular piece, disregarding the obvious, the brackets that connect the  bottom rail to the feet are adorned with four (maybe five?) circles. This approach to ornate decoration is fairly typical of the region. Apparently the Indian and Pakistani craftsman feels his work is incomplete unless every surface is embroidered with at least some kind of mark.
I would like, if I may, to suggest to you an excellent book which may offer some insight into the origins of the workmanship we usually ascribe to European and American woodcarving. Do not be mislead by it's humble title. It is  The Architect or Practical House Carpenter (1830) by Asher Benjamin. (ISBN 0-486-25802-5) There is also another publication by this man you may find useful. At any rate, within these pages you will find a very boiled down and very useful analysis of the development of classical components. I recommend, though it is not absolutely necessary, that anyone interested in these matters spend at least some time in reproducing the methods of laying out and drawing the patterns found in these pages in order to be familiar with the work when it is viewed or, more importantly, when it is executed.
 
Thank you very much for the info and I'll look into the book you suggest.

Could you venture a guess as to the age?
 
Not going to be able to help there. I see some bandsaw marks on those leg brackets but that alone says nothing. Everything was gutted when it was reupholstered so that won't help us. If there are any marks of any kind that would be helpful they'd probably be under the cloth.
Fran
 
Fran- I think your chair is an 1850's American chair. The inlay is very similar to the state seal of Massachusetts. It could be centennial, given the revival at that time of interest in our history- hence the Indian with a bow. Carving looks mid-century to Victorian with some sort of Italianate base- typical of mid to late 19th century stuff. Wood probably walnut, maybe mahogany-Al
 
Al, what centennial would Massachusetts have been celebrating ca 1850? The colony was established in 1620 or so and there was no United States in 1750.

Pam
 
The inlay is Artemis, no doubt. I am sticking by my comments despite the lack of authority, of August 4th.
F
 
Pam- Insert "or" before "It could be centennial" to clear up my meaning.
Admittedly, this is not my era of interest, it's just that I've seen a lot of ornate and a little crazy stuff mid to late 19th century-Al
 
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