Sleigh Seat
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800
Medium
Cherry
Dimensions
20 3/4 x 30 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (52.7 x 77.5 x 27.3 cm)
Classification
Sleigh seat
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1933
Accession Number
34.100.29
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this *Sleigh Seat* from around 1800 exemplifies early American craftsmanship in everyday functional art. Carved from rich cherry wood—a favored hardwood for its warm reddish tones, durability, and fine grain—this seat measures 20 3/4 x 30 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches, perfectly proportioned for the curved bench of a horse-drawn sleigh. Donated in 1933 by Mrs. Robert W. de Forest it invites us to envision bustling winter scenes across New England or the mid-Atlantic states. Sleighs were essential for snowy travel in rural America during the Fed...