This officer’s folding camp chair with carpet seat measures approx. 13 ½” X 16" X 26 ½” tall when open.  Folds flat for transport or storage with pivoting joints. Original piece of carpet for the seat has some wear on the edges. All four sides are bound with black leather. The front side of carpet is still firmly attached but the back has started to pull from the binding at one end. Iron upholstery nails are all present and this could be easily repaired. The wood is dark and has some scratches, scuffs and nicks. At the bottom of the rear left leg a strip of the wood appears to be shaved off on the inner side and the unfinished wood is showing. Chair is in solid shape and fully functions to fold and stand. Label with maker’s mark is present on underside of front piece of wood which holds the seat. It reads, “E.W. VAILL’S PATENT FOLDING CHAIR, WORCESTER, MASS PATENTED JANUARY 6, 1860”.

One item of furniture that seemed to be everywhere during the Civil War was this particular style of folding chair that was very popular with officers. These chairs were common before the war — they were the mid-19th century equivalent of the folding chairs nearly everyone has today — but once the army started moving, officers both North and South took these chairs with them. By war's end, thousands more were manufactured to meet the demand. It's no wonder we see them so frequently in the photographic record. This chair was sold at The Horse Soldier approximately fifteen years ago. It had documentation of a Gettysburg connection, but unfortunately, the history has been lost.

This chair would be the perfect addition to any Civil War camp life display.  [sl]

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