Misfit Research

The chair was likely made in the mid-18th century. It is constructed with mortise-and-tenon joints secured by square wooden pegs, with spiral-turned bars and hand-carved details. Both the seat and backrest were originally caned through individually drilled holes. The surviving cane backrest may be original, while the seat cane disappeared during a later intervention and its holes were filled with wooden dowels.

The chair carries evidence of numerous repairs. Joints were reinforced with larger round pegs, a broken spiral bar and backrest were secured with slotted screws, a front leg was wedged to reduce movement, and the corners were reinforced. As the front rail deteriorated, an additional wooden bar was attached to strengthen it. Today, one of its screws is completely exposed because the original wood surrounding it has decayed away.

The seat was later converted from cane to an upholstered seat. Cutouts were made in the rails for jute webbing, and some were later deepened, apparently to reach healthier wood as decay progressed. Jute, padding and red velvet were added, while further reinforcement allowed the weakened frame to continue carrying the new seat.

The chair therefore records a long sequence of adaptations. Each intervention solved an immediate problem while changing the chair further from its original construction. By the time of its last upholstery, much of the seat structure depended on repairs added to compensate for material that was already deteriorating.