Featured Windsor in nice original paint

I have way too many chairs, and way too many old windsors, but I am still always looking and will still pick one up if I find a good one. When these were made in the US starting in the late 1700's the early windsors were painted, though when you find an early one these days it has usually been stripped of original paint (such as the sack back armchair in the first picture). The original paint on those made prior to the early 1800's (such as the sack back armchair) were solid colors. If you're lucky you will occasionally find one of these early ones that has its original paint usually partially hidden under subsequent layers of later paint.

But finding an early 1800's chair (ca. 1820's so about 200 years old) in all original fancy paint is rare (for me at least). So I was quite happy to find this one, stacked with a bunch of junk furniture in the back room of a cleaned out estate at nominal cost. Here's a similar one that sold at Skinner recently: https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2538B/lots/437

One other point about these old chairs - someone on here says that old chairs are not functional in today's world, that they are uncomfortable and rickety and not worth owning. I disagree completely. The truth is that these old windsors are still incredibly stable and comfortable. The sack back armchair has been in our kitchen since I found it a few years ago and I sit on it every day putting on my shoes - we do the Japanese thing of outdoor shoes and indoor slippers (which is a good idea if you have some nice old rugs).

 

Like both of them. I read these threads and look at pictures as if I was the buyer--to learn from them for when I see one "in the wild". I get how the yellow paint decoration, form, etc. dates this to the 1820's. But the bottom would have thrown me off. I would have expected darker wood for it to be from that time period. Is it the type of wood used here that makes it not darker on the bottom? Ie., do certain woods look less aged?

Or is the bottom covered by some type of stain that is making the aging covered up? It does look like something was applied there, one can see a pretty straight "edge".

Just some thoughts, hope to learn more...

 

Yea, old Windsors! I grew up sitting in one or another of the ilk on the left. Both my grandparents' home and my own had them, and except when I had to sit on a phone book in order to reach the table, they were very comfortable.

They also add a bit of elegance and maturity to modern settings, and fit in surprisingly well.

 

Lovely.
I've always called that back an Arrow Back chair. Am I wrong?


@James Conrad

 

No you're right, it is called that these days; or to be more precise a step-down arrow-back windsor. Arrow-back spindles starting becoming popular after the war of 1812. I don't think they called it arrow back when they were being made, but I'm not sure.

Like you I buy in the wild and no longer at auctions - I can't begin to count the number of chairs I've turned over to look at them! This may be darker than it looks in the pic; it looks about right for that age wood (seems to be pine) on an unexposed surface to me. You definitely don't want a stain on unfinished wood like here - that is a sign of fakery or refinishing. The edge you see is the transition from the top paint to the unpainted bottom. Different woods do age differently and where they are kept also makes a difference - besides looking for new wood the important test is whether they have paint or stain.

 

Thanks Jeff, that helps!