This is a rare example of a 1760s Chippendale chair, having a carved cresting rail and splat, well shaped arms and supports , blind fret square chamfered legs and pierced stretchers. Made from quality west Indian mahogany rarely found in later 19th century pieces , you can usually tell an 18th century piece of mahogany simply by its weight.
The chair has a well shaped cresting rail molded and reeded forming in the up turned ends O G shapes and scrolls , the reed terminating in a tassel which encroaches onto the splat.
The profile of the O G shape at the end of the crest is exactly the same as the capitals on 17th century carved columns. The vase shaped splat combines both the classical C scrolls and swags with the Gothic which the 18th century chair makers combined so successfully. The splat flows nicely into the molded and curved shoe at the bottom.
The front square chamfered legs have a blind fret applied ,the chamfer gives them a lighter appearance. They are Joined by elegant pierced stretchers.
The joints are mostly mortice and tenon, the exception being the arms to the back legs which is a hidden dovetail and the arm supports to the rails being a half lap. The center stretcher dovetails down into the side rails except for the front edge where it forms a V joint. Unlike the country elm, ash, and oak chairs pegs were rarely used with the mortice and tenon joints.