Elastic Chair
Made by Samuel Gragg
Boston, Massachusetts, ca. 1808
Oak, hickory, beech
Winterthur, An American Country Estate, 1969.209.2, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Montgomery

Gragg’s pride in receiving a patent for his design is demonstrated by the custom brand he used to mark the undersides of his chairs. It reads “S. GRAGG, BOSTON, PATENT.” The Elastic Chairs that do not bear the “PATENT” brand may have been made before Gragg received his patent in 1808. It is also possible that he only branded the chairs that were shipped out of Boston.