Susan L. Buck
Cross-section Microscopy and Paint Analysis of Thomas Jefferson’s Revolving Windsor Armchair

American Furniture 2023

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Thomas Jefferson’s rotating Windsor armchair. Courtesy, American Philosophical Society.

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    F24-10 and F24-12

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    F24-11

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    F24-13

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    F24-14

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Figure 6a-b F24-11. Chair seat, PL side of seat near front, below incised line, near spot of bronze powder paint.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    F24-12. Chair seat, side of PR arm, just in front of iron strap.

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    F24-13. Chair seat, underside of crest rail, near scroll, PR side at large loss area.

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    F24-14. Chair seat, top of seat, adjacent to spindle at rear.

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    F24-14. Chair seat, top of seat, adjacent to spindle at rear. Re-polished cross‑section. Visible Light 200x (Image expanded to show details)

    1. Cream color; 2a. Red-orange base coat;

    2b. Brown glaze; Trapped grit;

    3. Brown paint;

    5. Thin brown paint; Modern glue;

    Wood.

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    F24-1

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    F24-2

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    F24-3

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    F24-14

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    F24-1. Base, top edge of base for turned seat mechanism.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    F24-2. Base, top edge, front Proper Left (PL) leg.

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    F24-3. Base, at join with central stretcher with PL side stretcher.

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    F24-3. Base, at join with central stretcher with PL side stretcher.

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Visible Light 200x
    2a. OV-white primer;
    3. Thin brown paint; Wood.

  • figure 20
    figure 20

    F24-5. Base, PL side leg, in bottom bamboo turning near join with stretcher.

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    F24-6 and F24-7

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    F24-8

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    F24-9

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    F24-6. Desk, top edge of writing surface support at large losses.

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    F24-7. Desk, rectangular block below writing surface, front edge at top where there are considerable losses.

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    F24-8. Desk, writing surface edge, near PR side.

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    F24-9. Desk, base of PL writing surface support.

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Comparative paint history table. This shows how the comparative paint histories on different elements can be aligned.