Splat-back armchair

John Gaines III

1735–43 · Soft maple, poplar, ash · The American Wing

In the design and construction of this armchair, the incline of the back, relaxed slope of the arms, and forward pull of the powerful ram’s-horn handgrips are in perfect balance. The scrolls, foliate carvings, and piercing of the crest rail and the extended length and breadth of the outward-sweeping carved feet are design elements associated with John Gaines III. Trained by his father, a turner and chairmaker in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Gaines moved in 1724 to Portsmouth, where his shop remained active until 1745.

Artist

John Gaines III

Date

1735–43

Medium

Soft maple, poplar, ash

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Bequest of Mrs. J. Insley Blair, 1951