Armchair

ca. 1781

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 749

Eliphalet Chapin transformed furniture-making in Connecticut in the mid- to late eighteenth century. Descending from a dynasty of western Massachusetts furniture-making families, Chapin invigorated local traditions with global, rococo designs from Philadelphia but never lost sight of his local audience and their preferences for subtle carving and fondness for native woods, like cherry. A true hybrid in form and design, elements borrowed from Boston, like the distinct "owl’s eye" pierced back, blend seamlessly with Philadelphia traits like the slightly compressed claw-and-ball feet. This introduction of Philadelphia traditions in central Connecticut has been attributed to Chapin’s tenure in the city after he was temporarily exiled from Windsor following a paternity suit.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Armchair
Maker: Attributed to Eliphalet Chapin (American, East Windsor, Connecticut, 1741–1807)
Date: ca. 1781
Geography: (none assigned) East Windsor, Connecticut, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Cherry, white pine, modern upholstery
Dimensions: 41 × 25 3/4 × 22 1/4 in. (104.1 × 65.4 × 56.5 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Erving and Joyce Wolf, in memory of Diane R. Wolf, 2023
Object Number: 2023.443
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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