Lambing Chair - Additional Information

I recently came across and won this chair at an auction in Yorkshire. It was described as a lambing chair, although it is apparently quite commonly mistaken for an antique
commode, which, from what I can establish, it certainly is not.

From my own research, I believe it is likely to be an English provincial Yorkshire Dales oak lambing chair, probably dating to the late Georgian or early Regency period, around 1800. It has a fitted drawer beneath the seat and a carved/formed central back splat, both of which seem consistent with this type of chair.

The drawer is fitted with a brass or bronze handle which appears appropriately aged and seems to have been hand-engraved, rather than being a later reproduction.

I would be very interested to hear the opinions of anyone familiar with this type of furniture, particularly on the following:

• Value: What would you consider a realistic current value for a chair of this type and condition?
• Age/authenticity: Are there any particular construction details, tool marks, wear patterns, timber characteristics, or other signs I should look for that might help confirm its age and originality?
• Provenance/type: Are there any features that would help establish whether it is specifically a Yorkshire Dales/English provincial lambing chair, rather than a related form of country chair?

Any observations, references, or comparable examples would be greatly appreciated.

 

Davey-bit too pretty to have been actually used for that purpose and is the brass an old stamped piece or a repop ?

 

The brass looks hand-made, and either it's fooling me or it's older than the chair.

 

I agree, the stamp does look a little too fresh, although the letters are partially cut off, so it’s difficult to make them out with certainty. It could be a T and an L, I, or possibly a J. The brass also appears to have been hand-engraved and stamped, as you can see inconsistencies in the pressure and impression across the fitting.

 

Most of the antique Lambing Chairs I've looked at have completely enclosed backs to keep the farmer warm in the cold barn, most especially at night while overseeing the birthing marathon.
Maybe the piece has been rebuilt- a blend ? The brass to my inexperienced Yank eyes looks old,stamped and worn (like the one I pulled off an 18th Cent chest of drawers in our London B&B !).

 

I’m not sure if this helps much more, but you can see that the stamps and engravings are very uneven in terms of their impressions, which leads me to think they were done by hand. The keyhole slot is also far from symmetrical. It’s a shame the actual keyhole was filled with a piece of wood and the lock removed, as Davey points out. Inside the drawer you can see the two prong like ends that have been opened to keep in in place.

 

You’re not wrong! I also questioned the open back, as it seemed strange to have it exposed like that. I’ve also noticed that a lot of the lambing chairs have the drawer on the front rather than on the side.