Side Chair
Unknown Artist
1760–90
Medium
Mahogany, maple, white pine
Dimensions
37 1/8 x 21 x 20 3/4 in. (94.3 x 53.3 x 52.7 cm)
Classification
Side Chair
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1909
Accession Number
10.125.292
Art Historical Context
This elegant side chair, crafted between 1760 and 1790 by an unknown American maker, exemplifies the refined furniture of the late Colonial and early Federal periods. Made primarily from mahogany—a luxurious imported wood prized for its rich reddish-brown grain and durability—the chair also incorporates maple and white pine structural elements like the frame and seat rails. Measuring about 37 inches tall, it was designed for comfort in formal dining rooms or parlors, often as part of a matching set that furnished prosperous households. The use of these woods highlights the craftsmanship of Am...