AFA 18th Anniversary

2018 Antiques & Fine Art 159 Outstanding examples of early American chairs abound in the Fielding collection. They range in time period and geography: you can see an important spindle-back Carver chair from around 1690, an exemplary group of Windsor chairs, and three chairs in the Queen Anne style among other examples. This sturdy, green- painted Windsor chair features a capacious and practical writing arm, with space below the seat for storage of writing implements. The maker of this chair, Ebenezer High-back Windsor armchair with writing arm, Ebenezer Tracy Sr. (American, n.d.), late 18th century. Wood and green paint. H. 36⅞, W. 36¼, D. 31 in. Jonathan and Karin Fielding collection. Tracy, was a Lisbon, Connecticut-based carpenter who achieved renown for his craftsmanship of Windsor chairs. Nails were rarely used in the construction of a Windsor chair; instead, steam-bent spindles and legs were fitted into holes in unseasoned wood that shrank as they dried, tightly gripping the component parts. The result was a lightweight chair of remarkable durability. The wear evident in this example bespeaks its durability over years of loving use.