Armchair
Southern, possibly Coastal South Carolina, 1690-1715
Black walnut
Catalog no. 1

Reflecting the craft of both turner and joiner, this remarkable southern chair reveals the early arrival of continental influences in the Low Country. The original wooden plank seat (replaced at a later date with a woven seat) and the large open frame on the back were designed for use with carreaux, or cushions. A common French and continental European practice, the use of tied-on back cushions was rare in Britain and America. Another unusual feature is the complex angled joinery that creates an intentional backward list for greater comfort. Again, there is little American or British precedent for this approach, which may reflect another continental custom.