Commode chair (close stool in armchair form), ca. 1770
Photo courtesy of Northeast...
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Photo courtesy of Northeast Auctions

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The walnut armchair has a serpentine crest rail terminating in scrolled back ears. The crest continues to plain tapered stiles that become the chair's rear legs. The central vase-shaped splat is solid, terminating in a simple moulded shoe. Its serpentine arms end in scrolled handgrips, and join the sides of the seat frame by means of serpentine supports. The broad seat has a deep frame with a plain rounded upper edge, and a deep central scallop to the front and sides of the skirt, to conceal a chamber pot. The front legs are cabriole, with plain knees and serpentine corner brackets at front and sides of the frame. The front legs terminate in shod trifid feet; the rear legs are rounded and raked back.

The interior of the chair is tulip, with a large central hole into which a chamber pot (no longer present) can be placed.

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