Hepplewhite Style Shield-Back Side Chair
Decorative arts chair, side chair format • American furniture maker, possibly Southern regional or Highpoint/Grand Rapids production
Style & Movement
Federal Revival (Hepplewhite style)
Medium & Technique
Carved mahogany or mahogany-stained hardwood, joined and pinned construction, upholstered slip seat
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (Centennial or Revival Period)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 38 x 20 x 18 inches; vertical portrait orientation
Subject Description
Single side chair featuring a transitional shield-shaped back with a central carved splat comprising vertical rails and stylized wheat or plume motifs at the crest. The seat is a drop-in slip seat upholstered in a blue synthetic or vinyl material. The base consists of four tapered legs connected by an H-stretcher.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; structurally sound but shows significant cosmetic wear and non-original upholstery
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $300 (per chair)
Auction Estimate
$50 - $150 (per chair)
Provenance History
Reported by owner to have originated from a plantation house in Lowndesboro, Alabama; suggests long-term Southern regional ownership
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of Federal Revival furniture, reflecting the early 20th-century American interest in colonial aesthetics and the aristocratic 'plantation style' associated with Southern history.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'Prince of Wales' plume-style carving on the central splat; regional provenance specifically linking it to the historic district of Lowndesboro, Alabama.
Condition Issues
Visible surface abrasions on wood, dulling of finish, severe cracking and peeling on the synthetic seat covering, and possible loose joinery typical of age.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional reupholstery in a period-appropriate silk or damask fabric; gentle cleaning of the wood with paste wax; check and tighten joinery to prevent structural failure.
Collector Notes
Two side chairs, taken from Alabama plantation house on Lownesboro Al