Leather chair
Unknown Artist
1723–45
Medium
Soft maple, ash
Dimensions
45 3/4 x 18 1/4 x 14 1/2 in. (116.2 x 46.4 x 36.8 cm)
Classification
Chair
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1909
Accession Number
10.125.698
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this "Leather Chair" 1723–45 offers a tangible glimpse into early 18th-century American. Crafted during the colonial period, when furniture making was a vital craft blending European influences with local ingenuity, this piece exemplifies the sturdy, functional designs that furnished homes in British America. Its generous dimensions—45 3/4 x 18 1/4 x 14 1/2 inches—suggest it was built for comfort and durability, likely serving as a prominent seat in a prosperous household. Made from soft maple and ash, both abundant American hard...