Posted 11 years ago
BigTex
(107 items)
Have owned this for many years. It is so old and fragile that I don't sit in it on a regular basis. Most Windsor's of this vintage have broken slats, but this one has no damage or repairs. I like it as an architectural piece, not really a chair. It appears to be hand pegged
Oh really beautiful......is the seat one single piece of wood? Or multiple boards glued together? Do you think the whole chair was made from the same type of wood? Love this!
The seat is all one plank of wood which has been shaped. I am horrible at identifying wood, I would guess it is from elm.
Really nice piece & I'm not prone to clk'ing on crap pictures. Get a camera.
Blunderbuss, thanks....I think
I am wondering if you think it was ever painted? All really old Windsor chairs were painted a solid color at one point. They did not "stain" them to show off the wood. The bottom of the chair, is it painted? If it never was painted, I would say it is a nicely made reproduction, like the ones I am have having built for my dining room set. Lancaster craftsmen, Amish and Mennonite make beautiful repros, this could be one. Sorry if you knew this already...Later!
Sorry BigTex. I over react sometimes. As a side-line, I have made lots of fine furniture. I love antique furniture & love to study how their joints are made etc. & get frustrated when people poste beautiful furniture with pics that don't show the details. Camera phones are usually the culprit. May times I find myself studying joints in furniture here in St. Maarten/St. Martin & then when I look at the "whole", realize that I made it! When I see something I really like, I often reproduce it as a hobby now. Would love to see some better pics of this chair. I notice that the side spindles go all the way thru the arm-rests, which make a stronger joint than the partial holes that may look better. Are the back-rest spindles 1-piece or 2?
Didn't know that BHock. I can't remember painting any thing wooden that I've made because I love wood grain & use good woods.
I agree with blunder, the spindles go all the way through which is a good sign. I would like to see some better pics too....I love Windsor chairs.
spoke too late, thanks tex!!!
I agree with BHock, most Windsors were painted. I have inc a couple of new photos. It does appear to have been painted black at one time. Sorry about the quality of the pics, it is the best resolution of cell phone can take.
Just like I thought this chair was once painted.....I knew it. Looks like the stretchers are made of maple...what do you think?
Forgot to mention the back spindles are one piece from top to bottom
really great windsor, I have an old one posted too, if you are interested tex....
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/67903-two-old-chairs
We have have the same issue....it is too fragile to sit in. Anytime we have visitors I tell them not to sit in the chair. They ask, "why do you have a chair that you can't sit in?" They just don't get it..
If made right, they should be plenty strong enough to sit in.
Maybe for most people but I am a head taller, and much heavier than most.
Why do you think I picked the name "Big Tex"? LOL. I would crush this poor chair
You might be surprised. If really old & well made, one of the best joints for spindles was a reverse cone shaped hole, a wedge in the end of the spindle that flared as driven in & won't come out ever. A bitch for restorers as they can't be taken apart. The ends of all the spindles would have to break at the same time.
Just FYI, here's a short article we published on Windsor chairs.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/is-your-antique-windsor-a-fake/