Mark Anderson and Robert F. Trent
A Catalogue of American Easy Chairs

American Furniture 1993

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1 Easy chair, Philadelphia, 1765–1780. Mahogany with white oak, white pine, and tulip poplar. H. 45 1/2", W 37", D. 35 1/4. (Dietrich American Foundation, on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art; photo, Philadelphia Museum of Art.) The tightly fitted silk damask cover with silk galloon or binding was fabricated in 1989.
  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Easy chair illustrated in fig. 1 with the original curled horsehair stuffing removed to expose the sackcloth and edge rolls. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Easy chair illustrated in fig. 1 with the original stuffing in place. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Side view of fig. 1 after conservation and addition of the missing outside covers. Note the line of the seam running down the wing and along the upper arm scroll. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Rear view of fig. 1 after conservation and lining of the original outer back. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Easy chair, England or Ireland, 1730-1760. Walnut with oak. H. 46", W. 36", D. 27 11 (at seat). (Private collection; photo, John Bly.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Side view of fig. 6. (Private collection; photo, John Bly.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Easy chair made by Thomas Affleck with carving attributed to Nicholas Bernard and Martin Jugiez, Philadelphia, 1770. Mahogany with white oak, yellow pine, and tulip popllar. H. 45", W 36 1/2", D. 34". (H. Richard Dietrich, Jr., on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art; photo, Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Frame of the easy chair illustrated in fig. 8. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Nonintrusive upholstery foundation fabricated for fig. 8. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Rear view of fig. 8 showing the jog in the upholstery line at the bottom of the outside back. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Easy chair, England, 1750—1770. Mahogany with Scots pine and ash. H. 41", W. 30", D. 33". (Private collection; photo by owner.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Side view of fig. 12 showing the arm and scroll construction. (Private collection; photo by owner.)

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Easy chair, Philadelphia, 1770—1790. Mahogany with walnut, tulip poplar, red gum, yellow pine, oak, and possibly white pine and maple. H. 46 3/8", W. 36 1/4", D. 29 1/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 92.31.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Side view of fig. 14. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Easy chair, Philadelphia, 1795—1805. Mahogany with tulip poplar and pine. H. 43 3/4", W. 30 3/4", D. 31". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 91.37.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Rear view of fig. 16. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Easy chair, eastern Pennsylvania or Winchester, Virginia, 1790—1800. Mahogany with tulip poplar, maple, and white pine. H. 43 5/8", W. 33", D. 30 7/8". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 91.44.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

     Rear view of fig. 18. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Easy chair, probably Pennsylvania, but possibly New York, 1795—1805. Mahogany with oak and pine. H. 45 7/8", W. 32 5/8", D. 32 5/8". (Courtesy, Bernard & S. Dean Levy; photo, Helga Studio.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Easy chair, New York, New York, 1810—1825. Mahogany with ash and pine. H. 48 1/2", W. 31 1/2", D. 30". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 88.37.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Front view of fig. 21 showing the original top linen. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Rear view, of fig. 21 showing the outside back top linen. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Easy chair, New York, New York, 1795—1810. Mahogany with maple, tulip poplar, and pine. H. 46 1/4", W. 31", D. 22 1/2". (Courtesy, Bernard & S. Dean Levy; photo, Helga Studio.)

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Easy chair illustrated in fig. 24 with the slip seat and stopper visible. (Courtesy, Bernard & S. Dean Levy; photo, Helga Studio.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Easy chair, New York or New Jersey, 1810—1830. Walnut with cherry and maple. H. 45 1/2", W. 33 1/4, D. 38 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Rear view of fig. 26. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Circular easy chair, Philadelphia, 1805—1815. Mahogany with maple, cherry, and pine. H. 46", W. 34", D. 34". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, acc. 91.36.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Rear view of fig. 28. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Easy chair, eastern Massachusetts or coastal New Hampshire, 1820—1840. Mahogany with maple, cherry, tulip poplar, pine, and ash. H. 49 1/4", W. 33", D. 28". (Private collection; photo, Alexander Studio.)

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Rear view of fig. 30. (Photo, Alexander Studio.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Easy chair, New York, 1800—1825. Mahogany with ash and white pine. H. .49", W. 32 1/2", D. 26 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Rear view of fig. 32. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of fig. 32, showing drilled holes and twines along the outer lead edge of the wing. (Photo, Winterthur Museum.)

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Easy chair, New Jersey, 1820—1840. Curly birch with maple, basswood, pine, and black ash (later oak stretchers). H. 48 1/8", W. 32", D. 29 3/8". (Private collection; photo, Winterthur Museum.)