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Hall chair
Braman, Shaw & Co. (active 1866–1883)
1870–74
Object Place: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Mahogany; poplar (secondary wood)
Dimensions
Overall: 122.6 x 51.4 x 48.9 cm (48 1/4 x 20 1/4 x 19 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Benjamin Pierce Cheney Donation
Accession Number1978.194
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsFurniture – Seating and beds
The Gothic style was used for furnishings made specifically for the front hall, as it lent itself to sturdy, durable furniture that could stand up to umbrellas, parcels, and wet overcoats. Hall chairs had no upholstery and were not meant to be comfortable. They offered a brief resting place for visitors and a handy storage compartment under the hinged seat for gloves and other outdoor apparel.
DescriptionTurned front legs and stump rear legs. Square plank seat, hinged lid over storage. Molded back posts with foliated finials. Pierced rectangular back with trefoil and pointed arch motifs. Pointed arch crest rail.
Marks
1. Painted in black beneath seat: "BRAMAN, SHAW, & .../ Boston, M."
2. Printed label beneath seat: "MANUFACTURED BY BRAMAN, SHAW & CO., ' IMPORTERS OF / SAMUEL LAYCOCK & SONS / ENGLISH HAIR SEAT / AND MANUFACTURERS OF ALL KINDS OF UPHOLSTERED PARLOR FURNITURE. / ... Street, Suffolk Market Building, / BOSTON / F...Y...East Cambridge."
2. Printed label beneath seat: "MANUFACTURED BY BRAMAN, SHAW & CO., ' IMPORTERS OF / SAMUEL LAYCOCK & SONS / ENGLISH HAIR SEAT / AND MANUFACTURERS OF ALL KINDS OF UPHOLSTERED PARLOR FURNITURE. / ... Street, Suffolk Market Building, / BOSTON / F...Y...East Cambridge."
ProvenanceMuseum purchase from Mr. Arthur Goodnough, 19 Pleasant St., Medford, MA 02115.