Images(6)

Chair, Dining

Object number2020.21.1

MediumWood; Paint; Varnish(?); Fabric; Metal; Felt

Credit LineGift of The Twentieth Century Club

DescriptionHand-painted dining chair with upholstered seat. Wooden elements (backrest and legs) are painted yellow with hand-painted elements in green, pink, and brown tones. Oval back rest with splat consisting of five curvilinear arms with triple bow at base; arms are painted to resemble acanthus leaves; additional painted curvilinear and leafy elements along bottom. Straight tapered front legs with hand-painted leaf elements just below seat; square tapered feet painted pink around top edge. Back legs flare toward each other and backward. Each foot has circular gray felt pad. Shield-shaped seat is upholstered with striped green, off-white/yellow, and pink/red stripes. Seat contains wooden framework. Green painted metal upholstery buttons on front corners of seat and on back bordering each leg. Underside of seat is covered in black fabric using metal staples around perimeter.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 37.625 × 22 × 20.625 in. (95.6 × 55.9 × 52.4 cm)
Historical NotesChair from the Twentieth Century Club. The chair was one of a set from the Oakland building's third floor Estelle Smith Campbell Dining Room and lounge area. The Twentieth Century Club was founded in 1894 with the aim to “create an organization for women’s work, though and activity, advancing her interested, promoting art, science and literature.” Women’s clubs were part of a greater social movement in the late 1800s that grew out of the idea that women had a moral duty and responsibility to transform society and public policy. This was a progressive era movement with links to suffrage and temperance, although not all members of women’s clubs adhered to either movement. The Pittsburgh club first met at the Thompson mansion at 408 Penn Avenue. They sponsored lectures and classes on language, literature, travel, history and science and were a member of the State Federation of Women’s Clubs. In 1910, they opened a club at their present location in Oakland, and in 1930 the clubhouse was redesigned by Benno Janssen. Many of these clubs saw a decline in the 1960s.

Related person Estelle Smith Campbell

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