In spite of diverging political ideologies between England and the newly independent United States, American furniture continued to be largely influenced by English design. London furniture designer George Hepplewhite was among the first to popularize Neoclassicism, with his book The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide (1788), which includes the Gothic-inspired design for these side chairs. The preference for carving over inlay seems characteristic of Salem, and traditionally, much of this carved furniture was attributed to Samuel Mclntire (1757–1811), the celebrated woodcarver and housewright. However, other locals, such as his son Samuel Field Mclntire (1780–1819), Daniel Clarke (1768–1830), and Joseph True (1785–1858), must have supplied similar work, and some of this furniture may have been produced in the Boston area as well.

Technical notes: Mahogany; eastern white pine (corner blocks), ash (front seat rail), beech (rear seat rail), birch (side seat rails on B.69.376.1), and hard maple (side seat rails on B.69.376.2). The Gothic tracery is composed of eight interlocking components. The corner blocks are triangular.

Related examples: Most closely related is Kane 1976, pp. 172–73, no. 153. This tablet was produced with carved eagles, swags, or baskets of fruit ornamenting the crest rail. Examples of the latter include Randall 1965, pp. 210–11, no. 170; Sack 1969–92, vol. 3, no. 1405; Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, sale 4116, April 27–29, 1978, lot 1057; Clunie, Farnam, and Trent 1980, p. 32; Sack 1969–92, vol. 9, p. 2520, no. P6135; Christie’s, New York, sale 6742, January 20–21, 1989, lot 700.

Book excerpt: David B. Warren, 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.