Slat-back armchair

Unknown

1650–90 · Poplar, ash · The American Wing

This is an example of the earliest known type of turned slat-back chair made in New England. The back consists of three broad, horizontal slats with straight upper edges cut away at the ends. The slats are graduated in height, with the largest at the top. Turned chairs with slat backs were found in both modest and affluent homes, where they provided practical, everyday seating alongside more fashionable and costly forms.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1650–90

Medium

Poplar, ash

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1909