HUDSON RIVER VALLEY SIDE CHAIRS
Antique white oak chair with ash splint seat
Wormy Chestnut chair with fiber rush seat
This chair is another copy from the Dominy family.
This example is made from figured walnut with a
rush seat.
This example is made from figured walnut with a
rush seat.
This is the Hudson River Valley chair in its fully
realized form. Note the bold Queen Anne off
center turned front legs and square corners. This
chair is painted with milk paint and then sealed with
a coat of varnish.
realized form. Note the bold Queen Anne off
center turned front legs and square corners. This
chair is painted with milk paint and then sealed with
a coat of varnish.
Hudson River Valley Chairs were very popular in the mid-1700's through the 1830's. Also known as splat back chairs
and fiddle back chairs, they were produced in large numbers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and on Long Island.
These chairs are exact reproductions of chairs made by the Dominy family, of East Hampton, New York, in the 1790's.
East Hampton is located on the east end of Long Island about 50 miles from my shop. The Dominy craftsmen were
famous for clock making, but also produced much fine furniture. Their shop operated for three generations and then sat
idle for 100 years until it was bought by the DuPont family. The complete shop (including the patterns for these chairs) is
on display in the Winterthur Museum.
Hudson River chairs incorporate design elements from many eras. The simple turned legs are derived from the Carver
and Brewster chairs of the Pilgrim era. The splat back is adapted from Queen Anne styling while the front stretcher is of
Dutch origin. These simple country chairs were produced in many different variations, some of which are shown below.
and fiddle back chairs, they were produced in large numbers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and on Long Island.
These chairs are exact reproductions of chairs made by the Dominy family, of East Hampton, New York, in the 1790's.
East Hampton is located on the east end of Long Island about 50 miles from my shop. The Dominy craftsmen were
famous for clock making, but also produced much fine furniture. Their shop operated for three generations and then sat
idle for 100 years until it was bought by the DuPont family. The complete shop (including the patterns for these chairs) is
on display in the Winterthur Museum.
Hudson River chairs incorporate design elements from many eras. The simple turned legs are derived from the Carver
and Brewster chairs of the Pilgrim era. The splat back is adapted from Queen Anne styling while the front stretcher is of
Dutch origin. These simple country chairs were produced in many different variations, some of which are shown below.