AMERICAN, PROBABLY PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHIPPENDALE WALNUT SIDE CHAIR

AMERICAN, PROBABLY PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHIPPENDALE WALNUT SIDE CHAIR, (updated 6/18/2025) the shaped crest rail over a splat having six vertical pierced reserves and set into a separate shoe over a molded trapezoidal seat frame supported by square molded legs having a chamfered inner edge and joined by a molded offset box stretcher. Retains an old finished surface with rich color, later-added blocking (where none existed previously), and an old, possibly original spruce seat frame. Fourth quarter 18th century. 37 3/4" HOA, 19" H seat, 15" x 21" seat.
Catalogue Note: Kirk - American Chairs: Queen Anne and Chippendale, p. 153, no. 207, depicts an extremely similar side chair to the present example with an attribution of "Southern Virginia?". This chair is sited as belonging to Colonial Williamsburg (acc. no. 1939-2963), though we cannot locate it in their online collection database.
Although, Colonial Williamsburg has a number of these chairs, many with nearly identical form and characteristics, all having attributions of Portsmouth, NH. One side chair in the CW collection (acc. no. 1982-282,2) bears an extremely similar molded central stretcher, further cementing the attribution of the present example to Portsmouth, NH.

From a prominent Shenandoah Valley of Virginia collection.

Good condition overall with one small patched repair to the front leg where it joins the seat frame; minor shrinkage separation/cracking to the splat; moderate overall surface wear.