A rare William and Mary walnut wainscot armchair, Pennsylvania, probably Philadelphia 1710-1730

A very rare survival of early American chairmaking, this Wainscot chair combines elements of Dutch, Welsh and Germanic traditions in the elaborate panel and turned components of its design. Termed from the Dutch word wagonschot, for a fine grade of oak board, such chairs were used as “great chairs,” or seats of authority and exclusive privilege, for wealthy and high-ranking political and religious leaders. One extant example at Yale University originally owned by Deacon Lawrence Ward of New Jersey has been used as the official chair of Yale College Presidents since 1701 (see Patricia Kane, 300 Years of American Seating Furniture, 1976, no. 1, p. 29).

The distinctive pierced and scalloped crest rail and rounded finials of this example readily identify it as a product of Philadelphia or Chester County, Pennsylvania. Similar chairs were made in Cheshire, England, and at least two joiners from Cheshire (Richard Clone and John Maddock) emigrated to the Philadelphia-area by 1683. The robust crest rail, fielded panel in the back, finely-articulated turnings and undercut arms indicate the chair was made in the early eighteenth century by a first generation craftsman.

Two closely related Wainscot armchairs are known. One made of oak, also once in the Jeffords Collection, was originally owned by the Pennock family of Chester County (see Benno Forman, American Seating Furniture, 1630-1730, 1988, fig. 69, p. 140). That chair differs in the flat panel of the back, the turned side stretchers and the turnings of the front stretcher. A second example nearly identical to the Pennock family chair but made of walnut with plain side stretchers is illustrated in Joe Kindig, The Philadelphia Chair, 1685-1785, 1978, pl. 4. Another similar Wainscot armchair with a single fielded panel back is illustrated in Israel Sack Inc., American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, Vol. I, no. 236, p. 77.  An additional example is offered as lot 254 in this sale. For a Cheshire, England example of the form, see Forman, fig. 68, p. 139.