Mexican Folk Art Ladder-Back Chair — Green, Hand-Painted Floral, Rush Seat 

A turned-wood ladder-back side chair in the Purépecha (Tarascan) folk furniture tradition of Michoacán, finished in a forest-green ground paint with black accent rings on the stile turnings and ball-form finials crowning the back posts. Freehand folk floral painting appears on the top two back slats — a loose five-petal blossom with dark foliage rendered in the same broad pintura popular hand seen across mid-20th century Mexican artisan production — with a painted fern motif on the front apron rail. The seat is woven in natural tule rush in a herringbone chevron pattern.

The green-ground frame carries an original polychrome surface with deep age patina. Paint loss is more advanced than on comparable yellow-ground examples from the same tradition, exposing the warm ochre undercoat across much of the frame — a layered surface that confirms authentic age and extended use.

CONDITION

Fair — finish shows heavy crazing and significant paint loss throughout, with warm undercoat exposed across most frame members. Wood split visible as shown in photos; chair is structurally wobbly and should be considered a display or decorative piece until joints are stabilized. Rush seat is intact with age-appropriate wear.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 35" H × 18" W × 14" D
• Seat: 17" W × 15" D × 13" H
• Frame: Turned wood, green paint ground, black ring accents
• Back: Three curved ladder slats; freehand folk floral decoration on top two slats; fern motif on apron rail
• Finials: Ball form, green-painted
• Seat: Natural tule rush, herringbone/chevron weave
• Structural Note: Wobbly joints; wood split as shown