Intricate 18th-19thC Chair Backs Photos

Starting in the late 1700s, designers like Adams & Chippendale abandoned simple ladder, spindle & splat chair backs for more intricate designs. Design trends for backs of side & arm chairs continued to spread in many directions. Because design ideas were liberally barrowed between manufacturers, it is hard to classify 18thC chairs by designer.

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An English parlor with card table at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.American walnut & cane side chair at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.American side chair with modern leather at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Card table with side chairs in parlor at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.
An English parlor (c1750) with card table at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.American walnut & cane side chair (c1700) at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.American side chair (1700-10) with modern leather at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Card table with side chairs in parlor at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.
Side chair from NH or MA at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Side chair by John Gaines III of Portsmouth, NH at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.George II mahogany chair which belonged to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry at Cleveland History Center. Cleveland, OH.Tall clock by Simon Willard of Roxbury, MA beside portrait of Julianna Hazlehurst by Jacob Eichholtz & sidechair attrib. to Duncan Phyfe of New York at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.
Side chair (c1730) from NH or MA at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Side chair (c1740) by John Gaines III of Portsmouth, NH at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.George II mahogany chair (1750-75) which belonged to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry at Cleveland History Center. Cleveland, OH.Tall clock (1753-1848) by Simon Willard of Roxbury, MA beside portrait of Julianna Hazlehurst (c1820) by Jacob Eichholtz & sidechair (1815-20) attrib. to Duncan Phyfe of New York at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.
Early American chair with carved trees in ladder back at Denison Homestead Museum. Stonington, CT.Rococo armchair made in Philadelphia, PA at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Upholstered side chair from England at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Drop-leaf table & Chippendale-style chairs from New York in Washington's Bed Chamber at Morris-Jumel Mansion. New York, NY.
Early American chair with carved trees in ladder back at Denison Homestead Museum. Stonington, CT.Rococo armchair (1755-70) made in Philadelphia, PA at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Upholstered side chair (c1760) from England at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Drop-leaf table & Chippendale-style chairs (c1760) from New York in Washington's Bed Chamber at Morris-Jumel Mansion. New York, NY.
Mahogany side chair a Chippendale copy made in Philadelphia at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Rococo side chairs from MA at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Side chair with rush seat from NH or MA at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Chippendale chairs in ladies withdrawing room at Craigievar Castle. Alford, Scotland.
Mahogany side chair (c1760) a Chippendale copy made in Philadelphia at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Rococo side chairs (c1770-90) from MA at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Side chair with rush seat (c1780-99) from NH or MA at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Chippendale chairs in ladies withdrawing room at Craigievar Castle. Alford, Scotland.
Dining Chippendale side chair at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.Round table with Chinese Chippendale chairs in tea room at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.Side table with silver serving pieces over Regency wine cellerette in Egyptian style plus Chippendale style chairs at Hill of Tarvit Mansion. Cupar, Scotland.Chippendale side chairs (on left with straight legs prob. by Eliphalet Chapin belonged to Ellsworths) at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.
Dining Chippendale side chair at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.Round table with Chinese Chippendale chairs in tea room at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.Side table with silver serving pieces over Regency wine cellerette in Egyptian style plus Chippendale style chairs at Hill of Tarvit Mansion. Cupar, Scotland.Chippendale side chairs (on left with straight legs (1781) prob. by Eliphalet Chapin belonged to Ellsworths) at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.
Armchair from New York City at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh, PA.Mahogany sidechair with scroll back from Philadelphia at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Mahogany card table from New York with side chairs from Boston or Salem at Nelson-Atkins Museum. Kansas City, MO.Mahogany dining chair by James Cullen in State Dining Room at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.
Armchair (c1760) from New York City at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh, PA.Mahogany sidechair with scroll back (1765-80) from Philadelphia at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Mahogany card table (c1765-85) from New York with side chairs (c1755-85) from Boston or Salem at Nelson-Atkins Museum. Kansas City, MO.Mahogany dining chair (18thC) by James Cullen in State Dining Room at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.
Mahogany sidechair with urn back from Salem, MA at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Upholstered armchair attrib. to George Seddon from England at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Maple armchair with ring back possibly by John Seymour & Thomas Seymour of Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Armchair with Gothic arches back probably from Karlsruhe at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Mahogany sidechair with urn back (1790-1800) from Salem, MA at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Upholstered armchair (c1790) attrib. to George Seddon from England at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Maple armchair with ring back (1795-1805) possibly by John Seymour & Thomas Seymour of Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Armchair with Gothic arches back (c1805) probably from Karlsruhe at German Historical Museum. Berlin, Germany.
Armchair attrib. to Langley Boardman of Portsmouth, NH at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Armchair from England which was in Octagon House while rented by President Madison in District of Columbia period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Painted oak & beech side chair by Samuel Gragg at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cane seat sidechair with decorated back by Benjamin Henry Latrobe & George Bridport from Philadelphia at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.
Armchair (1805-11) attrib. to Langley Boardman of Portsmouth, NH at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Armchair (1800-10) from England which was in Octagon House while rented by President Madison in District of Columbia period parlor (1814-20) at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Painted oak & beech side chair (c1808) by Samuel Gragg at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cane seat sidechair with decorated back (1808) by Benjamin Henry Latrobe & George Bridport from Philadelphia at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.
Greek klismos-form side chair by Benjamin Henry Latrobe & George Bridport with caned back at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Second empire style chair at Moses Myers House museum. Norfolk, VA.Cane seat sidechair with decorated back attrib. to John Finlay & Hugh Finlay from Baltimore at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.American painted poplar side chair at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.
Greek klismos-form side chair (1808) by Benjamin Henry Latrobe & George Bridport with caned back at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Second empire style chair at Moses Myers House museum. Norfolk, VA.Cane seat sidechair with decorated back (1815-25) attrib. to John Finlay & Hugh Finlay from Baltimore at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.American painted poplar side chair (1825-35) at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.
Mahogany sidechair with draped back from Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Mahoganny center table by Joseph Meeks & side chairs in parlor of Mount Vernon Hotel Museum. New York, NY.Table from New York City at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh, PA.Display of early Virginia furniture & portraits by Cephas Thompson at Norfolk History Museum. Norfolk, VA.
Mahogany sidechair with draped back (1810-25) from Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Mahoganny center table (c1820) by Joseph Meeks & side chairs (c1810-20) in parlor of Mount Vernon Hotel Museum. New York, NY.Table (c1820) from New York City at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh, PA.Display of early Virginia furniture & portraits (c1812) by Cephas Thompson at Norfolk History Museum. Norfolk, VA.
Crystal toilette table & chair by L'Escalier de Cristal of Paris under Marie-Jeanne-Rosalie Desarnaud-Charpentier at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Detail of crystal chair & toilette table by L'Escalier de Cristal of Paris under Marie-Jeanne-Rosalie Desarnaud-Charpentier at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Biedermeier dining table & chairs with portraits at Schleswig Holstein State Museum. Schleswig, Germany.Biedermeier suite of chairs & table from southern Germany at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.
Crystal toilette table & chair (c1819) by L'Escalier de Cristal of Paris under Marie-Jeanne-Rosalie Desarnaud-Charpentier at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Detail of crystal chair & toilette table (c1819) by L'Escalier de Cristal of Paris under Marie-Jeanne-Rosalie Desarnaud-Charpentier at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Biedermeier dining table & chairs (c1820) with portraits at Schleswig Holstein State Museum. Schleswig, Germany.Biedermeier suite of chairs & table (c1820) from southern Germany (Franconia?) at Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Nuremberg, Germany.
Typical sitting room of Biedermeier era from Hamburg home at Cremon #38 at Hamburg History Museum. Hamburg, Germany.Viennese chair at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Bedroom / sitting room at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.Dining room chair at Russborough House. Ireland.
Typical sitting room (c1830) of Biedermeier era from Hamburg home at Cremon #38 at Hamburg History Museum. Hamburg, Germany.Viennese chair (c1825) at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.Bedroom / sitting room at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.Dining room chair at Russborough House. Ireland.
Dining room chair at Russborough House. Ireland.Caned side chair in music room at Gibson House Museum. Boston, MA.Federal-style chairs in parlor of Crowninshield-Bentley House of Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Samuel McIntire chair in parlor of Gardner Pingree House. Salem, MA.
Dining room chair at Russborough House. Ireland.Caned side chair in music room at Gibson House Museum. Boston, MA.Federal-style chairs in parlor of Crowninshield-Bentley House of Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Samuel McIntire chair in parlor of Gardner Pingree House. Salem, MA.
Cupboard, table & chairs upstairs in John Marshall House. Richmond, VA.Samuel McIntire carved chair at Peirce-Nichols House. Salem, MA.Samuel McIntire chair in Peirce-Nichols House. Salem, MA.Chair with lacey back at Kelton House Museum. Columbus, OH.
Cupboard, table & chairs upstairs in John Marshall House. Richmond, VA.Samuel McIntire carved chair at Peirce-Nichols House. Salem, MA.Samuel McIntire chair in Peirce-Nichols House. Salem, MA.Chair with lacey back at Kelton House Museum. Columbus, OH.
Elaborate antique armchair with caned seat at Chepstow. Newport, RI.Chinese style armchair in Kier bedroom at Pollok House. Glasgow, Scotland.Desk & armchair in Robert Adam's Library with curved ends at Culzean Castle. Maybole, Scotland.Round table with armchairs in Library at Culzean Castle. Maybole, Scotland.
Elaborate antique armchair with caned seat at Chepstow. Newport, RI.Chinese style armchair in Kier bedroom at Pollok House. Glasgow, Scotland.Desk & armchair in Robert Adam's Library with curved ends at Culzean Castle. Maybole, Scotland.Round table with armchairs in Library at Culzean Castle. Maybole, Scotland.
Straight back chair at Rosemount House Museum. Pueblo, CO.Ebonized cherry side chair attrib. Herter Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Mahogany side chair attrib. Herts Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Straight back chair at Rosemount House Museum. Pueblo, CO.Ebonized cherry side chair (c1880) attrib. Herter Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Mahogany side chair (c1885-90) attrib. Herts Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
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