Side Chair
Datec. 1815-1825
MediumCurly maple, tiger maple and cane
Dimensions33 × 19 × 22 inches (83.8 × 48.3 × 55.9 cm)
Credit LineBequest of Mary Telfair.
Object number1875.1
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextAn unknown Philadelphia cabinetmaker made the fifteen curly maple side chairs and two sofas left to the museum by founder Mary Telfair. These items appear on her brother Alexander’s 1832 inventory, listed as “18 large maple chairs” valued at $70 and “2 sofas” valued at $35. A center table, valued at $50, and twelve additional “small” maple chairs valued at $40 likely completed the set. The location of the three missing “large” chairs and the dozen “small” chairs is unknown. Even without the complete ensemble, which probably filled the Telfair’s Drawing Room, the existing chairs, sofas and table provide a commanding visual reference to the Telfair family home soon after they moved into the new Regency-inspired abode. The exotic curly maple wood, a material frequently used among Philadelphia cabinetmakers, as well as the caned Grecian forms of the chairs and sofas, made this set of furniture quite fashionable. Perhaps the most interesting feature of these chairs was the cabinetmaker’s use of the curule form for the legs. Derived from the crossed support of the sella curulis, or folding stool used by Roman officials, the curule form exhibited another feature of the “antique.” However, this classical revival shape was not as popular as the klismos design. The Telfair chairs incorporate both design elements, using the inwardly-curved stiles that smoothly transition into upward scrolls along each side of the seat front for the upper part of the chair, while the demi-lune shaped legs created the base.
