Side Chair
1742–90
Medium
Mahogany, white oak, white pine, and beech
Dimensions
108.6 × 58.4 × 54.6 cm (41 3/4 × 23 × 21 1/2 in.)
Classification
seating
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
35702
Art Historical Context
This elegant side chair, crafted between 1742 and 1790, exemplifies the refined woodworking traditions of colonial America. Standing at 108.6 × 58.4 × 54.6 cm, it was constructed from premium mahogany for the visible surfaces—prized for its rich reddish-brown grain and durability—paired with white oak, white pine, and beech for structural elements. These woods reflect the era's resourceful craftsmanship, where imported mahogany signaled wealth and sophistication, often sourced from the Caribbean for high-end furniture in prosperous households. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of ...