Form with square tapering seat and tall narrow back upholstered in dark brown nailed leather; back with horizontal U-curved arms at top fitted with hinged, adjustable wooden book rest on back; retractable tin candleholder in left arm, small retractable sectioned tray in right arm; drawer in seat; cabriole front legs with pad feet, turned stretchers, rear feet square in section; small brass caster on each foot.

A) chair
B) drawer
C) bookrest support

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Object Timeline

1960	We acquired this object.
2006	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2007	We exhibited this object.
2013	This was an Object of the Day.
2015	We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2021	You found it!

"Cockfight chair" Reading Chair, ca. 1720–30

This is a Reading Chair. It is dated ca. 1720–30 and we acquired it in 1960. Its medium is turned and joined walnut, leather, brass, tin. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Much like cricket fighting, cockfighting is a blood sport between two gamecocks held in a ring. While this chair was intended as a specific piece of furniture dedicated to reading, it also became known as a cockfight chair, likely due to its capability for the user to safely sit with the padded back shielding them from the violence of the fight.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Cockfight chair.

This object was donated by Mrs. Paul Moore. It is credited Gift of Mrs. Paul Moore.

Cube-form with narrow, flat, slightly curved seat rail, flat out-curving arms, turned upright, paneled sides; square dish-carved seat with arched apron; four tapering cylindrical legs.

Argyle Tea Rooms Armchair, 1897
oak.
Gift of David Byrne and Adelle Lutz.
1994-52-1

Rolled pillow back and front seat rail; so-called "turtle" slat stencilled with design of footed bowl of fruits. Turned straight front legs on button feet. Four lateral and two longitudinal turned stretchers. Caned seat. Gilt bandings on black ground.

Hitchcock chair Armchair, 1820–40
painted, stencilled and gilded maple wood, caning.
Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt.
1931-43-112

Its dimensions are

H x W x D (Book rest and parts not extended): 92.2 x 77.5 x 72 cm (36 5/16 x 30 1/2 x 28 3/8 in.) Open (chair with book rest, candlestick and tray in arm extended): 106 x 95 x 96 cm (41 3/4 x 37 3/8 x 37 13/16 in.)

Cite this object as

"Cockfight chair" Reading Chair, ca. 1720–30; England; turned and joined walnut, leather, brass, tin; H x W x D (Book rest and parts not extended): 92.2 x 77.5 x 72 cm (36 5/16 x 30 1/2 x 28 3/8 in.) Open (chair with book rest, candlestick and tray in arm extended): 106 x 95 x 96 cm (41 3/4 x 37 3/8 x 37 13/16 in.); Gift of Mrs. Paul Moore; 1960-164-16-a/c

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions The Virtue in Vice and IDEO Selects: Works from the Permanent Collection.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2Ct76/
Accession Number 1960-164-16-a/c
Object ID 18431709