drawing, wood
drawing
sculpture
furniture
product showcase
united-states
wood
decorative-art
Dimensions 35-5/16 x 17-3/4 x 17 in. (89.7 x 45.1 x 43.2 cm)
This side chair was made by Lambert Hitchcock sometime in the early 19th century, using wood, paint, and rush for the seat. Hitchcock was one of the first American furniture manufacturers to use assembly line techniques. He divided the labor, with different workers responsible for turning the wooden elements, weaving the rush seats, and painting the decoration. The standardized parts could then be shipped far and wide, reflecting an emerging national market. The chair’s painted decoration simulates more expensive materials like inlaid wood or gilded metal. This was a common approach at the time, and we shouldn't see it as mere imitation. Rather, it's an indication of how design and craft were being adapted to new modes of production. Paying attention to materials, making, and historical context allows us to appreciate the chair’s significance, challenging traditional notions of fine art and craft.
Comments
Lambert Hitchcock has emerged as one of the most famous entrepreneurs in America through his chair manufactory, which he established in 1818 near Hartford, Connecticut. By the 1830s, Hitchcock annually sent upwards of 15,000 chairs to furniture retailers throughout New England and the South. He advertised his firm by stenciling his name on the back seat rail of chairs produced at his factory. The majority of Hitchcock's chairs are turned, from the crest rail to the front seat rail. Their "fancy" patterns include stenciled floral bouquets over a surface painted to imitate rosewood. These chairs retain their original paint and probably their original finishes and seats, making them rare survivals among early-nineteenth century mass-produced furniture.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
