Goddard Corner Chair

These chairs were made singly or in pairs by John Goddard in Newport, Rhode Island in the last quarter of the18th century. They vary in their details, some having 4 ball and claw feet, some 3, some with carved knuckle arms and some plain sawn. An outstanding example of Rococo design in the colonies, these chairs have no straight lines, one curve flowing into the next. The unusual treatment of the top of the arms is typical of the Newport interpretation of this style and the ball and claw feet have the typical tendon running up the legs, oversized nails and lack of a web between the claws.