Collection Highlights
Swing Low: A Harriet Tubman memorial
2007
2009.34
Cast bronze
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Armchair
Object name
Armchair
Date
1785-1789
Medium
Mahogany; pine, poplar
Dimensions
Overall: 37 3/4 x 24 1/2 x 21 in. ( 95.9 x 62.2 x 53.3 cm )
Description
Mahogany Federal-style armchair; tri-lobed crest rail, straight stiles, and pierced slat with interlacing design with a central four-leaf flower with bellflowers below; serpentine arms; square seat upholstered over the rail with serpentine front rail and brass tacks at lower edge; square molded legs with side, rear, and medial stretchers; brass plaques affixed beneath seat rail describe use of chair in inaugurations of Washington, Grant, and Garfield; seat reupholstered.
Credit Line
Gift of Edmund B. Southwick
Object Number
1916.7
Marks
Label: brass plaque on crest rail (left) inscribed "USED BY PRESIDENT U.S. GRANT/ AT HIS INAUGURATION MARCH 4, 1873"
Label: brass plaque on crest rail (center) inscribed "CHAIR USED AT THE INAUGURATION OF/ GEORGE WASHINGTON/ AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, APRIL 30, 1789/ PRESENTED BY EDMUND B. SOUTHWICK/ MARCH 7, 1916"
Label: brass plaque on crest rail (right) inscribed "USED BY PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD/ AT HIS INAUGURATION MARCH 4, 1881"
Gallery Label
This chair was used on the balcony of Federal Hall, New York City, by George Washington at his inauguration on April 30, 1789. It was also used for the inaugurations of Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1873) and James A. Garfield (March 4, 1881). A side chair from this set is at the New York State Museum.
Provenance
Federal Hall, New York City; to William Coventry Henry Waddell (1802-1844); to his descendant Edmund B. Southwick
Bibliography
Bach, Debra Schmidt. "Witness to history: Furniture and historic relics." The Magazine Antiques 167 (2005): 162-167.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
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