Slat Back Side Chair

Period1750 - 1800

MediumMaple and ash

Dimensions35.5 × 19 × 16 in. (90.2 × 48.3 × 40.6 cm)

ClassificationsSeating Furniture

Credit LineMuseum Collection

Object number1990.611

DescriptionThis dark brown painted side chair features three shaped slats joined to turned stiles that have flattened balls between the slats. Large ball finials, which are incised with a scribe mark at their widest point, sit atop a ring turning. The balls also have a nipple on the top. Like the rear stiles or posts, the turned front posts incorporate flattened ball elements. The lower frame includes a pair of sausage turned front stretchers, as well as pairs of plain side and back stretchers. The woven rush seat is a recent replacement, and the feet have worn considerably.
Curatorial RemarksA small three slat side chair that falls into the same group as accession numbers 1990.624, 1992.520, 2017.2.1, and 2017.703. The elements it shares in common with the three larger arm chairs include the particular articulation of the finials, sausage turned front stretchers, and the use of flattened balls in the turnings of the front and rear posts. This particular example has a nicely shaped top slat with a point in the center. Other privately owned chairs from this group also have this distinctive feature.NotesA native of Germany born in Gutersloh, Westphalia, Michael Maps (1728 - 1802) sailed for America from Rotterdam in 1754. Initially indentured to George Smith for seven years in payment for his passage, he subsequently married Smith's daughter Barbara and settled on Smith land in the present borough of West Long Branch, Monmouth County. Maps, who was a chairmaker and wheelwright, died in 1802. He was also an ardent early member of the Independent Methodist Church, and is buried in that denomination's cemetery in West Long Branch. His estate inventory, taken on September 5 1802, lists "three Cheer racks," and "One Grindstone, one set of Carpenter Tools, one lot of Cheer and Wheel Stuff." A son and grandson followed Maps in the chairmaking trade. They were Frederick Maps (1756 - 1818) and Zenas Maps (1786 - 1862), both of whom occupied the homestead in West Long Branch. For other examples of chairs attributed to Michael Maps, see accession numbers 1990.624, 1992.520, 2017.2.1, and 2017.703. An extended discussion of Maps can be found in the Curatorial Remarks of 2017.2.1.

Collections

Furniture