2nd half 18th century and later, probably coastal Massachusetts. The set is comprised of an original grouping of five with five additional matching chairs of later construction. The original five with mortise-and-tenon construction at the back and crest rail and with triangular frontal glue blocks and inset rear glue blocks within the seat frame. The shaped styles joined to yoke crest above the inverted bell splat joined to a serpentine seat rail with shaped apron. Each chair fitted with a framed woven rush seat. Raised on cabriole frontal legs with shaped returns and back-swept chamfered rear legs joined by blocked reel and baluster turned H-form stretchers terminating in platform pad feet with tapered tips. All in original black paint. SIZE: 40″ h (at back) x 17-1/2″ to 18-1/2″ h (varied seat). PROVENANCE: Original contents from the estate of Louise Alida Livingston, Oyster Bay, L.I., N.Y. Removed from the family home, Greenport L. I., N.Y. CONDITION: Four of the five original chairs with structural repairs to tops of back at crest rails, one with structural reinforcement to proper right leg at seat frame, four with varying degrees of structural weakness and or repair at front of seat frames, all five with in-use wear and normal and expected abrasion and paint loss. The five later examples of doweled construction at crest rail, chair seats also doweled without the use of glue blocks, one chair with stress crack proper right ear of back, a second with splinter loss at joint of shoulder, no other structural issues noted, normal and expected abrasions from in-use wear otherwise structurally good. All ten rush seat frames are present, all with varying degrees of damage to woven rush, several seat frames are weak at the corners. The ten are considered fair to good overall. 51941-9 (1,000-2,000)