The term roundabout is the most descriptive and frequent period designation for these chairs, although contemporary sources also refer to them as corner half-moon, corner elbow, smoking, barber’s, writing, and desk chairs. Today it is generally recognized that they were intended for use at a desk, their configuration suggesting a forerunner to the swivel chair. The reversed orientation of the unusually shaped banisters makes this a singular example. A New England origin seems probable in light of its design, secondary wood, construction, and exhibition history.

Technical notes: Black walnut; soft maple (slip seat). The legs show evidence of cross stretchers. The front leg is mortised and tenoned into the seat rails. The seat frame lip is integral with the rail. The inside seat rail repeats the contour of its curvilinear exterior. The banisters are inverted into the rear seat rails. The arms are carved and molded, stopping short of the crest and central support. They are joined and capped by the T-shaped crest. The slip seat retains its original foundation and leather cover. The rear seat rail bears the label: “Mrs. E. A. Duncan.”

 Related examples: This chair is most like one advertised in Antiques 94 (November 1968), p. 698, and reminiscent of a group of tea tables (Sack 1969–92, vol. 7, pp. 1838, 1924, nos. P5109, 5201).

Book excerpt: Warren, David B., Michael K. Brown, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and Emily Ballew Neff. American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection. Houston: Princeton Univ. Press, 1998.