The straight stiles, pierced splat, rounded shoulders, balloon-shaped slip seat, turned stretchers, and cabriole legs with pad feet of the chairs above are all characteristic features of chairs produced in Rhode Island in the middle of the eighteenth century. The presence of several chairs similar to design found in southern ports suggest that merchants favored this streamlined form for venture cargo.

Once part of a larger set, this pair of side-chairs and their corresponding slip seats are inscribed with Roman numerals II and (?). The yoke crestrail with rounded shoulders evident on these chairs
is an unusual variation of the more standard form of chairs of similar design. More typically, the crestrail is embellished with pointed ears rather than the rounded shoulders or with central arch flanked by protruding scrolled-back ears. The shape of the splat on this pair of chairs is identical to other related examples but the manner of piercing varies slightly. The idiosyncrasies of the above pair of side-chairs result in a harmonious overall design of soft contours and simple elegance.