Here's the thing....those turnings are early American, CT., BUT, the stiles look English? AND I'm beginning to believe that those slats are absolutely unique?

I bought it as a great country chair................now I wonder................

to begin with What A Great Chair! It must have been taken care of all of those years, all 5 splats (highly stylized) and good shape. If it is New England-made the turned parts would be maple right? Never seen a ladderback chair that didn't have a vertical back. The back posts and rear legs are made separately, right?

Hmmmm, no they are all one piece. I think maple? But I'm not great with wood (unless it's obvious.....birdseye, tiger oak. etc). It actually looks to me like the arms and splats are a different wood?

Here's a picture of the back posts:

It's a mystery chair lol. I've looked at probably thousands of ladderbacks the last few days and can't find another like it. Guess I'll hold onto it for a bit longer, not a bad thing as I've always really loved it.

You're considering selling it? Are you a dealer with a shop? I have done no research on it but it is different/fine enough to make me think it might be a lot more than you suspect. Try looking for "slatbacked rush seated arm chairs"....and add things like Connecticut or Maine, or Rhode Island or southern into the mix.

Yes, I'm a dealer and I bought it for resale. But after taking a good look at it I never put it in the shop because I wanted to do some research. So it's been sitting in my house for 2 years and I just started researching this week lol. And yep, I have done those searches as well as scoured past Pook and Pook, Keno and Sotheby's auctions, as well as been through the Winterthur online collection with no luck. I think I may contact the Winterthur and see what they think.

Those slats are what is really throwing me off (I don't know why I keep typing "splats"), as well as the shaping of the back legs/stiles.

There is an online image similar to your armchair which has been sold. It is from English Country Antiques in New York.

These chairs are typical of what I see in the midAtlantic. All with perfectly straight backs. Only the top slat is pegged.

I want someone to tell me how the armchair in the OP was made. If the rear legs & posts are all one piece of wood it may have been turned first and then steam bent. A ladderback chair with a "raked" back is not at all common.

Well, I just wrote a whole thing......aaannnndd it's GONE

Anyway, a synopsis........found some 18th C nails, and the auctioneer told me it came from an old farmhouse in Schoharie County, NY.

The form is baffling; I'll be contacting museums this week.

Nails in that chair??? Chairs like that weren't made with nails.

They were underneath, at the corners of the rush, not part of the construction of the frame. Actually, I'm not sure what the purpose is, as they didn't seem to be doing anything as far as I can tell.

That's an upholstery tack, they are still made today, not necessarily 18th c.

Then, since what it was nailed into would of needs be the same age, you suppose the rush seat material has survived along so well for 220 years or more?

Finally, there is zero wear to the wood of the turned stretcher, the front posts or the arms. Look at real documented 18th or early 19th c. chairs, those areas a the first to wear, and often the turnings are worn flat by boots.

Casey

Well duh, you're right, I feel like an idiot now lol. I don't do much upholstered furniture and they looked like the old nails I've seen on other pieces. And I do take your point about the wear. On the other hand, I've certainly seen old chairs and other furniture in surprisingly almost perfect condition. Funnily enough I found the tacks while looking for a Stickley stamp because I found these:

Which were listed as 1950's era. As you can see the back posts, arms and turnings are very similar. I didn't find the stamp, but found the "old nails" and went "weeeeee" lol.

Also, yes, you are right about the "old nails" and the perfect rush seat. Makes complete sense and I wonder why it didn't occur to me. Guess I fell into the whole "I found a treasure" trap, sigh. It's been a rough year hahaha.

You did find a treasure....it's a beautiful chair! There are a lot of 18th century ladder backs that have not had their front rung worn smooth. It depends on the placement of the rung. Sit in that chair and try to hook your heels over the rung.
Look for other signs of wear....it could very well have been refinished 75 years ago and the split oak seat replaced with rush.

Hello. You still around? I have a similar chair. Would love to know any info that you found.