Search Collections - Ontario Heritage Trust

Search Collections - Ontario Heritage Trust 18240 false 18240 https://OHT.MINISISINC.COM/SCRIPTS/MWIMAIN.DLL/131773175/2/1/18240?RECORD&DATABASE=COLLECTIONS_OPAC 2022.1.3 Rocking chair Rocking chair 18240 https://OHT.MINISISINC.COM/SCRIPTS/MWIMAIN.DLL/131773175/2/1/18240/WEB_UNION_DET_REP?RECORD&DATABASE=SELECTION_LIST Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History A carved walnut rocking chair believed to have British American Institute origins. The turned vertical uprights, the back board, the turned front leg braces, the runners, and arm-rests are all hand-carved with decorative floral, leaf, and line motifs. The crest rail bears a central Masonic symbolic motif in low relief on the front; the verso is rough and appears unfinished. The seat is caned with flat (about 1” wide) slats woven in a herringbone weave pattern. Based on the normal patina of wear on the chair but none on the seat, as well as the “fresh” bright surface in areas of the caning that were not stained, it is likely that the seat is a replacement caning. wood, walnut bois, noyer Carved Josiah Henson and white abolitionists Hiram Wilson and James Canning Fuller purchased 300 acres on the Sydenham River and opened a manual training school known as the British American Institute in 1842. The school sold items it manufactured, and the proceeds were invested back into the Institute. Eventually the Institute had a blacksmith shop, sawmill, gristmill, brickyard and a rope factory. Half of the enrolled students were adults. This chair is made from a dark walnut, which was plentiful on British American Institute lands, and is believed to have been carved and assembled by Institute students. The walnut would have been harvested and prepared by students before being used in the woodworking workshop. Examples of students’ beautiful craftsmanship were brought by Josiah Henson to the 1851 World’s Fair in London, England, where they were displayed for fairgoers—and the Queen of England, Victoria—to admire. Henson, Josiah 118.11 cm 74.3 cm 79.38 cm 2: Furnishings Furniture Seating Furniture Chair Chair, Rocking image https://OHT.MINISISINC.COM/M3IMAGE/2022.1.3_CM_JHM_2022_1_3.jpg Cultural Josiah Henson Museum Collection ca. 1842-1868 https://OHT.MINISISINC.COM/SCRIPTS/MWIMAIN.DLL/131773175/2/1?ADDSELECTION&COOKIE=BOOKMARK&DBNAME=SELECTION_LIST https://oht.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/131773175?SHOWORDERLIST&COOKIE=BOOKMARK&NEW=Y false 0 18240