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Child's Convertible High Chair
Child's Convertible High Chair
Child's Convertible High Chair

Child's Convertible High Chair

Period1820 - 1835
MediumLow grade mahogany and hard pine
Dimensions37.75 × 18.5 × 20.5 in. (95.9 × 47 × 52.1 cm)
ClassificationsSeating Furniture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1934
Object number634
DescriptionA convertible child's high chair that can be unstacked to use as a child's chair and table. The chair has a flat crest rail and two medial rails with diamond carved center sections and ball turnings. The back stiles are curved and end in scrolls. Curved armrests have holes drilled through their tops to receive a retainer bar to keep the child from falling out.The front legs are tapered, while the back legs are curved and tapered. Stretchers form an H-shaped assembly. The slip seat retains its original foundation upholstery, as well as its original black horse hair cover. The table top sits on four squared and canted legs which are tapered.The bowed front edge of the top serves as a footrest for the child when the chair is stacked on top of it. Four shallow square sockets in the corners of the table surface receive the chair leg bottoms. The chair and stand were originally secured together by a threaded iron rod. An iron plate with a threaded socket is screwed to the center of the table top. It corresponds with a hole drilled through the medial stretcher of the chair.
Curatorial RemarksThe unusual convertible high chair can be unstacked to form a chair and table for use by a child. Horsehair as an upholstery cover on furniture once was very common.
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