Pair of Side Chairs

These elegant side chairs, part of a set of eight, invite you to imagine the bustling home of a wealthy Salem merchant in the late 18th century. Their design was directly inspired by a popular English pattern book, George Hepplewhite’s The Cabinetmaker and Upholsterer’s Guide, a testament to how quickly European styles traveled across the Atlantic. Notice the delicate, almost lyrical carving on the back and legs, a hallmark of the craftsman Samuel McIntire, who also designed the house these chairs were made for. The choice of mahogany, a prized imported wood, speaks to the owner's status and desire for fashionable furnishings. While functional, these chairs also served as statements of refined taste and prosperity, reflecting the era's emphasis on classical elegance and meticulous craftsmanship.