Posted 13 years ago
LibraryLady
(4 items)
I bought this rocking chair to recane the seat and didn't care for it much, but it has grown on me since I recaned it and now I'm interested in learning anything I can about it. I haven't seen one with a back like this and have no idea if it's common or typical of a particular manufacturer or what. I don't even know what kind of wood it is. (I'm a caner, not a furniture person!)
The chair stands 32" tall and is 16" wide at the front of the seat.
If you have any thoughts about it, please share them with me. Thank you!
Your sewing chair (or "lady's" chair as some like to call it) is very typical of mid- to late-19th century factory furniture. The style of the chair is known as the Eastlake style, after English designer Charles Eastlake, who popularized a simpler, more geometrical/industrial look in the ornamentation of furniture, architecture and household goods as a sort of backlash against all the Victorian "gingerbread" of the time. These types of chairs were prevalent in most homes in America and western Europe during the period, especially during the last quarter of the 19th century. The wood would very likely be walnut, used extensively in Victorian/Edwardian furniture, especially that made in the Eastlake style. Glad you're enjoying it!
Thank you very much, Phil. I have read about Eastlake style but didn't realize this chair fell into that category. I really appreciate the help!