Dimensions 40 x 21 1/2 x 21 in. (101.6 x 54.61 x 53.34 cm)
This japanned side chair at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is all about surface and decoration, which is painting! The artist, who is currently unknown to us, built up layers of black and gold paint that now seems to mimic the wear and tear of time. I can almost imagine the artist’s hand carefully tracing the gold patterns, filling in the negative space, or maybe using a stencil. Did they have a clear plan, or did the design emerge organically as they worked? I wonder what they were thinking about as they built up this surface, stroke by stroke. I am especially drawn to the subtle texture and faded colours, which lend the chair a sense of history and authenticity. This artist is building on previous makers' work and also influencing those who come later. It's all one big conversation! As painters, we are constantly engaging with these forms of embodied expression that allow for multiple interpretations.
Comments
With its finely carved shell and carved (rather than lathe-turned) stiles, this chair would have been labor-intensive and hence, was most likely made for a wealthy household. It is not surprising therefore, that this chair was once owned by Levi Lincoln, a prominent statesman who served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1808-1809. His descendent, Mrs. Huntington Brown, brought the chair with her to Minneapolis in the early 20th century. Rounded stiles are found on classical Chinese furniture (see the Ming dynasty armchairs on view in Gallery 218), which indicates the owner's taste for the "oriental." Nearly one hundred years after this chair was made, a later owner had its original wood finish enhanced with "japanned" decoration, so named for its resemblance to Japanese lacquer.
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