Six Chairs
Those who have visited the Kingsland Manor may have noticed an array of interesting chairs placed throughout the rooms. Here is some information on the donors and descriptions of the chairs to help you identify them during your next visit.
In April 1977, Miss Ruth Raby of Rutherford donated two chairs to the Historic Restoration Trust of Nutley. The chairs are “both the same; frame painted black; back 34” high, 3 slats ladder back, 14-1/2” across; front 17-1/2” high; seat 14” by 16” natural split reed.” One chair is in our Museum room and the other is in our basement.
In October or November 1977, Irwin Brill, a founding member of the Historic Restoration Trust, purchased four chairs to be used in the Manor. Only one of the chairs is currently being used. They are “ladder back with 2 slats; top seat 3” wide; lower slat is 1-3/4” to 2” wide, back post 33”; front leg 18”; rabbit ears; all are the same design but 3 have wooden seats and 1 has rush seat 13-1/2” by 16-1/2”; 2 are natural wood and 2 are painted black.” The painted black chair with a rush seat is used in our Museum room, and the other chairs with plywood wooden seats are in storage.
Mr. William Henry Happe Jr. and Mrs. Jane Hammond Barnes Happe of Nutley donated a Queen Anne style oak chair in the latter part of 1977. The chair has a “seat 14” by 17-1/2” with a depth of 15-1/2”, carved front legs.” The back of the chair has a center slat that resembles a violin. The chair is in our Museum room.
Mrs. Lois Bauderman of Nutley donated a child’s rocking chair with arms in March of 1980. Lois was highly active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 493 in Nutley. The chair has “5 turned spindles in the back not including the turned posts; 8” from the base to the rockers; the seat is 12” x 14-3/4” with a depth of 13”; oval decoration at the top of back.” The seat and oval on the back of the chair are tooled leather. This chair is in the Bedroom.
In June 1986, we received another child’s rocker from Mrs. Alex R. McIntosh of Red Bank, New Jersey. The chair is “painted black with gold flower decoration; seat – 14-1/2 on each side; back: 16” across; 4 flat rungs in lower back; 3 curved slats in upper back from floor to the top of back – 27-1/2”; belonged to Mrs. McIntosh’s grandfather.” This child’s rocker is also displayed in the Bedroom of the Kingsland Manor.
The last chair is a kitchen chair appropriately displayed in our Kitchen. The chair is “very heavy (probably oak) painted white.” It was donated to the Historic Restoration Trust in January 1993 by F. and H. Krukar of Passaic, New Jersey.