A splat is a vertical piece in the central portion of the back of a chair made of a flat wooden board that provides support for the sitter. The splat design of a chair may be plain and simple, or be intricate and reflect the theme of a specific furniture period and local culture. Chairs with splat backs provide a more formal effect in a room or space.
What are Famous Splat Designs?
Thomas Chippendale, a London cabinet maker who in 1754 published The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director, made use of different splat designs incorporating Gothic, Chinese, English, and French features. The most famous Chippendale chair design is a wide-seat ribbonback, incorporating a back rail shaped into a cupid’s bow, the splat of which is pierced and carved into interlocking ribbons- a French Rococo style.
Chairs of gothic Chippendale design are characterized by a pierced center splat with pointed gothic arches and ogee curves. The back of the chair is wider on top and the rail forms a shallow “s” towards the center. The ends of the rail extend upwards to form “ears”.
What are Variations of Splat in Chairs?
The fiddle chair has a remarkable splat design featuring a violin-shaped central board hence the name of the chair. Queen Anne furniture commonly features the fiddle-style splat.
The Windsor chair was widely used in colonial America and New England. The splat of Windsor chairs remains at the center of the back pinned by slats. Designs of the Windsor chair splat can range from bow braces, double bows, and tapers.
More intricate splat designs employ embellished carvings, marquetry, fretwork, or tracery.
At present, splat chairs can appear in Primitive, Edwardian, Hepplewhite, and Art Nouveau designs.
