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?Figure 1  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Walnut. H. 44fi÷•", W. 20⁄÷¡§", D. 21‹÷•". (Courtesy, Wadsworth Atheneum; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 2  Ruben Moulthrop, portrait of an unknown man, New England, 1770–1790. Oil on canvas. (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)
Figure 3  Armchair, England, 1660–1670. Beech. H. 53⁄÷™", W. 25", D. 22⁄÷™". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 4  Side chair, England, 1690–1700. Beech. H. 50", W. 18⁄÷•", D. 19‹÷¢". (Courtesy, Yale University Art Gallery.)
Figure 5  Detail of the back of the side chair illustrated in fig. 4.
Figure 6  Benjamin Franklin, The Colonies Reduced, designed and engraved for The
Political Register, December 1768. (Courtesy, Print Collection, Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University.) This satire of the Stamp Act attacks Britain’s mercantilist strategy of preventing the colonies from trading among themselves.
Figure 7  Josiah Child, attributed to John Riley, England, ca. 1680–1690. Oil on canvas. 40⁄÷™" x 34fi÷•". (Courtesy, National Portrait Gallery.)
Figure 8  The Third Earl of Shaftesbury, engraving after a painting by John Closterman, London, ca. 1700. Ink on paper. Dimensions not recorded. (Courtesy, National Portrait Gallery.)
Figure 9  The First Earl of Shaftesbury, London, 1673. Ink on paper. Dimensions not recorded. (Courtesy, Print Collection, Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University.)
Figure 10  Armchair, England, 1670–1680. Dimensions and woods not recorded. (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum Decorative Arts Photographic Collection, R. W. Symonds Collection.)
Figure 11  Side chair, England, 1710–1720.
Walnut. H. 44fi÷•", W. 20⁄÷¢", D. 21⁄÷™". (Courtesy, Wadsworth Atheneum, Wallace Nutting Collection, Gift of J. P. Morgan; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) The front legs have been pieced below the break in the knee.
Figure 12  Detail of the crest of the chair illustrated in fig. 11.
Figure 13  Detail of the right front leg of the chair illustrated in fig. 11.
Figure 14  Detail of the “I” stamps on the chairs illustrated left to right in figs. 1, 23–25, 30, 35.
Figure 15  Side chair, England, 1685–1710.
Beech. H. 51‡÷•", W. 18⁄÷¢", D. 15⁄÷¢". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)
Figure 16  Side chair, England, 1685–1710.
Beech with pine. H. 50⁄÷™", W. 17⁄÷™", D. 20". (Courtesy, New Hampshire Historical Society.)
Figure 17  Side chair, England, 1710–1720. Beech. H. 48", W. 17Ω", D. 14". (Courtesy
Jeffrey Tillou; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 18  Detail of the stamp on the side chair illustrated in fig. 17.
Figure 19  Detail of the crest of the side chair illustrated in fig. 1.
Figure 20  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1705–1715. Maple with red oak. H. 38‹÷•", W. 17‹÷¢", D. 14‹÷•". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)
Figure 21  Side chair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1715–1725. Maple. H. 41", W. 18‹÷¢", D. 16". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 22  Detail showing the back of the crest of the chair illustrated in fig. 1.
Figure 23  Armchair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Maple. H. 50‹÷¢", W. 23‹÷•", D. 16‹÷•". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 24  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Soft maple with oak. H. 45⁄÷¢", W. 18", D. 14⁄÷¢". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 25  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Maple. H. 45Ω", W. 18", D. 14º". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 26  Detail of the crest of the chair illustrated in fig. 25.
Figure 27  Side chair, Boston or Ipswich, Massachusetts, 1715–1725. Maple. H. 42⁄÷™", W. 18⁄÷™", D. 15". (Courtesy, Ipswich Historical Society; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 28  Detail of the right front foot of the chair illustrated in fig. 27.
Figure 29  Detail of the crest of the chair illustrated in fig. 27.
Figure 30  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Maple. H. 45", W. 17Ω", D. 14Ω". (Private collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 31  Detail of the crest of the chair illustrated in fig. 30.
Figure 32  Detail of the back of the crest of the chair illustrated in fig. 30.
Figure 33  Armchair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Maple. H. 46‹÷•", W. 24⁄÷™", D. 22". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg.)
Figure 34  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1710–1720. Maple. H. 43⁄÷¢", W. 17⁄÷™", D. 14fi÷•". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Edes.)
Figure 35  Side chair, Boston area of Massachusetts, 1715–1725. Maple. H. 45º", W. 18", D. 14Ω". (Private collection; photo, Gavin
Ashworth.)
Figure 36  Detail of the back of the chair illustrated in fig. 35.
Figure 37  Detail of the front stretcher of the chair illustrated in fig. 35.
Figure 38  Side chair, Boston, Massachusetts, ca. 1740. Walnut and walnut veneer with maple and white pine. H. 38⁄÷™", W. 20‹÷¢", D. 18⁄÷™". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)
Figure 39  Armchair, Boston, Massachusetts, 1700–1715. Maple. H. 50‹÷¢", W. 25‹÷¢", D. 27". (Chipstone Foundation; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)