Understanding that consumers craved both novelty and variety, Hunzinger offered his chairs with several choices of upholstery and finish. Upholstery divided into three sections, with a decorative stripe at center, was popular in the 1870s and 80s. The center stripe was often a machine-woven fabric, but it was also fashionable for women to stitch fancy needlework for their furniture. The original cover on this chair has not survived; the needlework now on the cushion was stitched by MFA volunteer Gabriella Beranek after a pattern published in 1877.

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