A BLACK-PAINTED SACK-BACK WINDSOR ARMCHAIR

Details

A BLACK-PAINTED SACK-BACK WINDSOR ARMCHAIR
PROBABLY LEBANON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 1780-1800

The bowed and incised crest above seven tapering spindles flanked by shaped stiles over a curved armrail with scrolled grips and knuckled handholds above baluster-turned supports over a shaped and dished plank seat, the underside inscribed "R.H. Hammond, 1011 Chestnut St., Lebanon, PA," on baluster and cylinder-turned legs joined by a swelled H-stretcher, with blunt-arrow feet, the entire surface painted black--42½in. high

Provenance

Hammond Estate, Gilberts, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1962

Lot Essay

With its tall incised crest, this armchair is a rare interpretation of the Pennsylvania sack-back form. According to legend, the term sack-back was adopted because of the practice of securing a sack over the back of the chair to shield the sitter from drafts. For a related armchair, attributed to Lancaster County, see Santore, p. 102, fig. 105.