Early New Mexican or Mexican Pine Chair,19th C.

New Mexico or Mexico, Spanish Colonial

Mid 19th century, possibly earlier | Item 2135

This is a wonderful and early mortis and tenon chair, likely coming from the mid 19th century if not earlier. I’m not clear of its origins. It has characteristics of New Mexico but also of Mexico. The overall look, and complexity, is not typical for a chair coming out of New Mexico during this period. The carving on the backrest is highly individualized, with a bird flying above a small jar with flowers all carved into the chair. Two, petalled flowers flank each side. There is a separate back rest piece as a stretcher that has deep vertical groves, carved ‘X”s and, in the center, a deeply carved grid. Below this stretcher is a second one mimicking the upper backrest board with deep carving outlining it.

The wood used is pine, and likely ponderosa, typically used in New Mexico but also found in Northern Mexico. The surface has been painted with a dark, brown paint that shows much wear. There is a front panel just below the seat that is deeply carved similar to the second rail found for the backrest. Here we find again the deeply cut vertical lines adjacent to carved “X”s and then a deeply carved grid in the center. Above this are two rows of chip carved wedges making two lines across the same board. This elaborate board is more characteristic of Pueblo chairs, especially the Cochiti Pueblo.

The wood shows evidence of having been adzed and not saw cut. There is no hardware in the chair, only mortis and tenon joints. Wood pegs were used to further secure the joints, and many of these pegs have fallen out leaving a deep hole. However, several wood pegs remain in tact. It’s interesting to see that the seat is attached to the side stretchers by mortis and tenon. I have never seen this in an early chair.

There is evidence of a few worm holes in the wood, which suggests a warmer climate than New Mexico has. However, the chair has been on the East Coast for many years and it’s possible the warm holes were created during that period. True, New Mexican furniture does not have any worm holes due to the colder climate.

The small size or the chair suggests an earlier time. The arm rests are as well an added feature that is rarely found on earlier chairs. These early chairs with arm rests are often referred to as bishop’s chairs, suggesting that a clergy member of importance would have such a chair acting like a throne. That may be the case, but a wealthy individual might also have a chair made with arms.

There are carved out finials on the top of the back rails. These top knobs were chip carved out and no lath was used. The front rails show variations to the wood surface suggesting they were carved out.