This delicate set of carved dining chairs possesses the highly desirable characteristics associated with Newport cabinetmaking in both the form of the splat, and the distinctive stop-fluted legs. The specific details of the carving in the splat are closely related to the celebrated cabinet shop of John Townsend [1733-1809]. The chairs are constructed of high-quality mahogany that retain a rich color and old mellow patina. Newport stop-fluted chairs are a rare and desirable form and complete sets of six, in fine condition, are seldom offered in the marketplace.
The chair has a dramatically scrolled serpentine crest rail with rolled ears, centering a raised, cross-hatched fan. The rail joins a scrolled and pierced splat with a pair of volutes above a pair of vasiform scrolls and a molded cleat. The splat has a fine chip-carved detail that is found on other documented Newport chairs attributed to John Townsend. The back is above a trapezoidal seat with an over-upholstered seat with fine fabric in excellent condition. “H” form stretchers join the four rectangular legs. The rear legs have a gentle backward curve at the base and the front legs are boldly stop-fluted. This simple, crisp decoration is found almost exclusively on Newport furniture starting sometime around 1780. The elegant precision and unencumbered form of this decoration is particularly well suited to seating furniture. The particular form of the splat gained popularity concurrent with the appearance of stop-fluting, hence the combination of these two devices is identified as the standard of the form.
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