Bannister-back armchair c. 1720

This bannister-back armchair was crafted by an anonymous maker at an unknown date. It’s now part of the collection here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The chair’s design speaks to a fascinating period in furniture making, likely hailing from 17th or 18th century England or colonial America. These chairs were more than mere functional objects; they reflected social status. The intricate carving on the crest and the sturdy build indicate it would have been made for someone of means. It's a demonstration of wealth and taste, a visual marker of hierarchy in the household. The design also illustrates the cultural influences that shaped early American craftsmanship. The chair combines English traditions with the practical needs of colonial life. Auction records, probate inventories, and pattern books are helpful to understand the chair’s place in the domestic and cultural life of its time. The historian's task is to look beyond the chair's surface, tracing the networks of trade, labor, and cultural exchange that made its creation possible.