Although light and airy in appearance, this is indeed a heavy armchair of dense teakwood. It has a deep seat that can easily be fitted with a removable cushion...and below the seat is a nicely shaped scrolled apron on all sides… this was certainly no economy model. Note the wonderful shaping of the crest and arm in a continuous flow extending down to the rear legs. The front cabriole legs are quintessential Queen Anne with the added feature of claw and ball feet. This chair is further strengthened with traditional cross stretchers. Note the beautifully carved arm with its stylized arm supports. The backsplat has Chinese carving and the form of the back and stiles conforms to the human form, and has for centuries been a very desirable form.
This chair was deaccesssioned from the Henry Ford museum, as it no longer fits their collecting perferences. It has no breaks or alterations, and is in a remarkably fine state of preservation, having had little use during its lifetime.
Related scholarship (see scans below):
- This chair is illustrated in Centuries and Styles of the American Chair as documented when it was in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum.
- A set of Zitan chairs in Sotheby's - Sept 2008 - Asian Sale - lot 174.
- A reclining model of Zitan armchair in Sotheby's - Sept 2008 - Asian Sale - lot 184.
Height: 37 1/4 in. Seat Height: 17 in. Width: 23 1/2 in. Depth: 19 1/2 in.