Splat-back armchair 1735 - 1743

Editor: So, this is the “Splat-back armchair,” made between 1735 and 1743 by John Gaines III. It's made of carved wood. I am struck by how much craftsmanship went into a functional piece of furniture. It almost feels like a throne. What stands out to you? Curator: Thrones carry enormous symbolic weight, and indeed, this chair hints at something similar. Look at the feet—they’re not just feet, they are animalistic, perhaps claws anchoring the sitter to the earth, claiming territory. And the back splat... what does that form remind you of? Editor: It kind of looks like a vase, or maybe even a stylized human figure? Curator: Precisely! Forms echo and transform over centuries. Consider how classical Greek and Roman forms influenced the decorative arts of this period. Even everyday objects become bearers of cultural memory. That vase-like form…it is holding something, promising something, isn't it? Even now. Editor: So the chair becomes more than just a chair. It embodies status and carries historical echoes? Curator: Absolutely. Notice the dark stain of the wood, a common treatment. Think about the status signified through materials in the 18th century United States: What does that suggest about wealth, power, aspiration? Editor: It shows a lot of thoughtfulness to elevate something as simple as a chair to a level where it makes you think about history and status. I will definitely look at furniture in a different light from now on. Curator: Indeed. Symbols are powerful because they endure, and this chair demonstrates that perfectly. It is more than a functional object; it is a statement.