Francis Trumble (Philadelphia, active 1716-1798), Near Pair of Painted Windsor Fan-Back Chairs

Circa 1765-1780, mixed woods with dark painted finish, both with branded signature "F. TRUMBLE" to underside of seat, featuring a crest with carved volute ears, nine-spindles with turned supporting stiles, shaped plank seat, turned baluster ring and reel splayed legs, H-stretcher base with distinctive baluster between ring turnings.

35.75 x 24.25 x 17 in., seat height 16.75 in.

From the Estate of the late James McDonough III, Wilmington, North Carolina

Francis Trumble was among the earliest pioneers involved in creating the Philadelphia style Windsor chair. Trumble worked at various addresses on Front Street and Second Street, making a wide variety of furniture and other items, including walking sticks, rolling pins, lemon squeezers, and other craft made items. He was one of the earliest to make Windsor chairs in larger numbers, and one of two American makers to first brand his name with pride on the underside of his hand-crafted seat. He made (78) Windsor chairs for the State House and (12) chairs for the House of Representatives. American Windsors were being crafted in the 1730s and evolved into the Philadelphia style in the 1760s. Woods used in Trumble's chairs may include all or some of the following species: Tulip poplar, Hickory, Maple, Oak and Pine.

The form of these chairs match the example in the collection of the Winterthur Museum Collection, Museum Object Number 1971.0281.

Literature: Santore, Charles. The Windsor Style in America, Volumes I and II: The Definitive Pictorial Study of the History and Regional Characteristics of the Most Popular Furniture Form of Eighteenth-Century America 1730-1840. Vol. I pages 43, 46, 63, 85, 95, 98, 175; Vol. II pages 95, 120, 189, 283.

Paint and varnish appear old but likely enhanced; otherwise good estate condition.