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In the late
18th century, styles of furniture from England became more popular
in Spain. The Queen Anne style from England became known as the
Reina Ana style in Spain and Mexico. These two chairs, one from
Mexico City and one from Philadelphia, reveal how the Queen Anne
style was interpreted in each city.
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Side Chair
Franz Mayer Collection
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Philadelphia Side Chair
Bayou Bend Collection
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The Seat and Apron
This
chair has a rounded seat. In the front, below the seat, the part
of the chair called the apron is carved to look like flowing drapery.
The bottom edge is elaborately curved and scalloped.
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The Seat and Apron
The
Philadelphia chair has a rounded seat. Here the apron is a simple
piece of wood that does not extend down in front and is straight
along the bottom edge.
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The Back
The
splat of the Mexican chair is flamboyant with many elaborate curving
shapes that seem to expand and contract from the seat to the crest.
A small area is carved out in the center of the splat. A volute
curve adorns the chair's crest.
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The Back
The
sides of the chair are each an s-curve that rises from a rectangular
base. In the center, the splat is carved with open areas that
enhance the overall shape. Small curves adorn the splat and frame
the shell on the crest, the top of the chair's back.
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The Legs
The curving front legs - called cabriole legs - end in ball and
claw feet.
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The Legs
The cabriole legs and ball and claw feet in the two chairs are
very similar.
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