Featured Help with Windsor Chair

Hey all, I just picked up this really cool old Windsor chair and would like some input from the more learned out there. The lady I bought it from had it for 45+ years, and the antique store where she got it said it was English. It’s solid oak with great patina and wear. It measures 35” to the top of the back, 16” floor to seat and opens 21” at the arms. It looks rather smallish to me, but then again folks were indeed a bit shorter in the nineteenth century, if that’s the period it’s from. So can anyone confirm if it is indeed English, if it’s an adult or child’s size chair and lastly the approximate age? It is rather crude in its construction, and the spindles are clearly not uniform in size or symmetry. Any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated!

 

@Jeff Drum …..if you’re still there?

 

Just posting a larger and sharper image of the bottom......

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Forgive my ignorance, but I’m not quite sure what your replies mean. Are you asking for a larger, clearer picture of the bottom of the chair? And who is Jeff Drum?

 

And is it better to post pictures as full image or thumbnail?

 

We like to help each other by tweaking photos. Member Aquitaine enlarged and sharpened the photo of the bottom so its details are more visible. A good view of the construction helps.

Jeff Drum is a member who is very knowledgeable in this field. He has been 'tagged' so he knows his expertise is needed.

Full image is best.

 

I thought I’d include several more close up photos that may be more helpful. In looking them over, I can see what appears to be several small worm holes on the seat bottom, as well as evidence of hand cut details and rough construction and extreme wear. I’m not sure what the flat areas on the back of the leg turnings are from, but they are dark with age so whatever it’s from it’s been there a long time!

 

Here are some more, hopefully helpful, photos!

 

Think it is a full sized chair that has been slightly cut down. Appears to be mixed woods. I really don't see oak. Maybe ash or hickory for the seat, bent parts, and straight spindles. Maybe beech or maple for the larger turned parts. I don't think American and English is a distinct possibility. Nice genuine age to this. Mid 19th century at the least.

 

Thanks Brad, that would explain all the blemishes and imperfections in the wood! I was guessing oak based on some of the grain but the odd grain imperfections were throwing me off. And I agree that the legs may have been shortened a tad: the cut doesn’t look as aged as the rest of the chair. So you think perhaps mid eighteen hundreds English? I absolutely love the aged patina it has; I just had to have it!

 

Do you have any idea what those odd flat areas are on the back side of the front leg, seat and stretcher?

 

Either flat areas in the wood prior to turning or where the wood split off at some point.

Probably about right. The straight sawn saw marks probably don't put it too much earlier. The single board seat probably doesn't put it too much later. English is a good bet but have seen similar chairs from Ireland. Not sure about Continental chairs. I am no expert in this era furniture and certainly have little expertise with non-American furniture. You might wait to see what others have to say.