19th century AD

Magazine Antiques, May, 2003 by Michael Podmaniczky

The author wishes to acknowledge the seminal work of Patricia E. Kane and Nancy Goyne Evans and to thank them for their contributions of information and insight to this current study

(1.) The genealogical information is in "Autobiography of Major Samuel Gmgg 1806" (typescript copies of which are in the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord). The spellings 'Gregg" and "Gragg" appear interchangeably in many documents, but the chairmaker had obviously settled on the latter spelling by the time of his patent application. In this article the spelling inconsistency by father and son is retained to distinguish between the two, since there is no evidence that young Samuel used "junior" or "II."

(2.) Patricia E. Kane, "Samuel Gragg His Bentwood Fancy Chairs," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin, vol. 33 (Autumn 1971), pp. 26-37.

(3.) Nancy Goyne Evans, 'The genesis of the Boston rocking chair," The Magazine ANTIQUES, vol. 123, no. 1 (January 1983), pp. 246-253.

(4.) Kane, "Samuel Gragg," p.32.

(5.) Cited ibid. Hutchins is listed in the Boston directory of 1809 as a cabinet, and chairmaker.

(6.) Ibid.

(7.) The patent itself will be the subject of a future publication.

(8.) Conversation with Nancy Goyne Evans, May 3.2002.

(9.) Charles F. Hummel, With Hammer in Hand: The Dominy Craftsmen of East Hampton, New York (University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, 19681. p. 73, Fig. 28. A bending form for curved chairback slats is in the Dominy tool collection at the Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware. It did not require the use of steam.

(10.) See definition in the Oxford English Dictionary.

(11.) London Chair-makers' and Carvers' Book of Prices for Workmanship (London 1802), as cited in Evans, "The genesis of the Boston rocking chair," p. 246.

(12.) George Smith, A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration (London. 1808), P1. 40, as reproduced in Evans, "The genesis of the Boston rocking chair," p.249, Fig. 5.

(13.) Alice Knotts Bossert Cooney [Frelinghuysen], "Ornamental Painting in Boston, 1790-1830" (master's thesis, University of Delaware, 1973).

(14.) Christian M. Nestell sketchbook, New York, 1811-1812 (Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemens, Winterthur Library, Winterthur, Delaware).

RELATED ARTICLE

Pl. I. Detail of thc trade card in Pl. VI.

Pl. II. Side chair made by Samuel Gragg (1772-1855), Boston, c.1808-1812. Branded "S. GRAGG/BOSTON" under the front rail and "PATENT" under the back rail. Oak, hickory, and beech; height 34, width 19, depth 23 3/4 inches. Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware; except as noted, the photographs are by courtesy of the Winterthur Museum.

Pl. III. Fully elastic side chair made by Gragg, Boston, c. 1808-1812. Branded "S. GRAGG/BOSTON./PATENT on the bottom of the seat (see Pl. IV). Birch, oak, and beech with painted decoration; height 34 3/8, width 18 1/8, depth 25 3/8 inches. A detail appears on the cover. Winterthur Museum.