The range of old ‘Country’, or vernacular, chairs is very wide. But they mostly fall into one of two main structural groups:
Jointed Frame Chairs – where the back legs and the two main back uprights are continuous pieces and the seat is a four sided jointed frame.
Windsor Chairs – where all the main parts: legs, back bows, sticks etc fit into a solid seat: effectively the chassis.
Frame chairs developed from the stool by the addition of a back, early examples being known as back stools.
(Laurie 'The Chairman' Kent - Antiques Dealer at Hemswell)

Pair of Edwardian Open Armchairs

Pair of Edwardian Open Armchairs with Crossbanded Open Sides.

Dim: W-51.5 D-54 H-92.5 (cm)

Price: £195.00 This item has been sold

Pair of Edwardian Armchairs

Pair of Edwardian Armchairs covered in High Quality Fabric.

Dim: W-69 D-77 H-110 (cm)

Price: £750.00 This item has been sold

George III Leather Seated Armchair

George III Leather Seated Armchair on Block Feet. Some age wear to leather. Circa 1770.

Dim: W-61 D-60 H-97 (cm)

Price: £228.00

Pair of Gothic Hall Chairs

Pair of Gothic Hall Chairs, Circa 18th Century.

Dim: W-40 D-41 H-90 (cm)

Price: £325.00

19th Century Childs Windsor Chair

19th Century Childs Windsor Chair in Ash and Elm. Circa 1850.

Dim: W-44 D-39 H-78 (cm)

Price: £275.00

19th Century Dutch Marquetry Mahogany Armchair

19th Century Dutch Marquetry Mahogany Armchair with Scrolling Arms and Raised on Sabre Legs. Circa 1840.

Dim: W-57 D-60 H-90 (cm)

Price: £395.00

Fine George III Period Armchair

Fine George III Period Armchair in Mahogany in the style of Thomas Chippendale. In excellent condition, newly recovered. The timber is a lovely untouched colour. The chair matches the 4 dining chairs ...

Dim: W-60 D-50 H-100 (cm)

Price: £400.00

Mid 19th Century Smokers Bow Office Chair

Mid 19th Century Smokers Bow Office Chair in Yew with Elm Seat. Made in Worksop, Nottinghamshire by Allsop and Sons. Rare.

Dim: W-63 D-60 H-76.5 (cm)

Price: £480.00

Victorian Spoonback Nursing Chair

Victorian Spoonback Nursing Chair. Button backed with cushions. Circa 1860.

Dim: W-58 D-78 H-87 (cm)

Price: £345.00

Victorian High Back Upholstered Childs Chair

Victorian High Back Upholstered Childs Chair with Walnut Frame and Turned and Fluted Front Legs standing on Ceramic Castors. Some marks to the upholstery. Circa 1880.

Dim: W-37 D-40 H-81 (cm)

Price: £195.00

William IV Rosewood Framed Armchair

William IV Rosewood Framed Armchair.

Dim: W-68 D-80 H-91 (cm)

Price: £695.00

Rare Ash Dug Out Farmhouse Chair

Rare Ash Dug Out Farmhouse Chair from the West Country. 19th Century.

Dim: W-49 D-43 H-129 (cm)

Price: £1350.00

Edwardian Inlaid Childs Chair

Edwardian Inlaid Childs Chair in Mahogany.

Dim: W-45 D-44 H-46.5 (cm)

Price: £175.00

Oak Corner Desk Chair

Oak Corner Desk Chair. Circa late 18th / early 19th Century.

Dim: W-70 D-62 H-76 (cm)

Price: £180.00 This item has been sold

19th Century Moorish Hardwood Chair

19th Century Moorish Hardwood Chair inlaid with Ivory. Circa 1890.

Dim: W-37 D-50 H-106 (cm)

Price: £175.00 This item has been sold

Pair of 19th Century Walnut Salon Chairs

Pair of 19th Century Walnut Salon Chairs. In need of recovering.

Dim: W-46 D-50 H-92 (cm)

Price: £100.00 This item has been sold

Victorian Mahogany Framed Armchair

Victorian Mahogany Framed Armchair. Circa 1870.

Dim: W-70 D-95 H-102 (cm)

Price: £350.00

Good Quality Pair of Side Chairs

Good Quality Pair of Side Chairs in Original Condition. Good Upholstery and Good Colour. Possibly by Maple & Co. This item is currently off site. Please contact the centres before visiting.

Price: £650.00

Ash and Elm Childs Windsor Rocking Chair

Ash and Elm Childs Windsor Rocking Chair. Circa 1880.

Dim: W-43 D-55 H-83.5 (cm)

Price: £215.00 This item has been sold

Oak Swivel Desk Chair

Oak Swivel Desk Chair Early 20th Century. Tilting Action, Brass Castors and Re Covered Brass Studded Leather Seat Circa 1920.

Dim: W-55.5 D-49 H-87 (cm)

Price: £395.00 This item has been sold

Ash and Elm Windsor Chair

Ash and Elm Windsor Chair with Splat Back and Crinoline Stretcher. North Notts. Turned Legs.

Dim: W-51.5 D-41 H-101.5 (cm)

Price: £365.00

Victorian Elm and Beech Childs Windsor Chair

Victorian Elm and Beech Childs Windsor Chair with Fruitwood Prince of Wales Feathers Splat. Circa 1880.

Dim: W-42.5 D-35 H-68.5 (cm)

Price: £225.00

Lloyd loom Chair

Lloyd loom Chair Circa 1930.

Price: £68.00

French Floral Needlepoint Armchair

French Floral Needlepoint Armchair 124.O

Dim: W-57.5 D-53 H-86.5 (cm)

Price: £145.00

Victorian Mahogany Cane Seated Campaign Chair

Victorian Mahogany Cane Seated Campaign Chair.

Dim: W-37.5 D-60 H-70 (cm)

Price: £68.00

Victorian Slat Back Rocking Chair

Victorian Slat Back Rocking Chair with Arms. Fruitwood with Elm Seat. Circa 1850.

Dim: W-58 D-74.5 H-108.5 (cm)

Price: £255.00

Georgian Oak Side Chair

Georgian Oak Side Chair. Circa 1760.

Dim: W-47.5 D-46.5 H-94.5 (cm)

Price: £195.00

Mid 19th Century Hand Carved Oak Hall Chair

Mid 19th Century Hand Carved Oak Hall Chair in the Carolean Style. Circa 1860.

Dim: W-47.5 D-47 H-129.5 (cm)

Price: £198.00

Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Armchair

Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Armchair. Circa 1910.

Dim: W-67 D-60 H-94 (cm)

Price: £225.00

Victorian Swivel Desk Chair

Victorian Swivel Desk Chair.

Dim: W-55 D-65 H-95 (cm)

Price: £425.00

Victorian Mahogany Spoonback Armchair

Victorian Mahogany Spoonback Armchair. Re-upholstered. Circa 1880.

Dim: W-64 D-77 H-89 (cm)

Price: £850.00

Edwardian Inlaid Carver Chair

Edwardian Inlaid Carver Chair. Re-Upholstered.

Dim: W-51 D-52 H-96 (cm)

Price: £185.00

There are many regional variations. But most vernacular frame chairs have oak, ash or beech frames with rush, caned or solid wood seats. There are several styles of seat back most having top and bottom crossrails. ‘Spindlebacks’ have one or more rows of vertical spindles between the rails. Vase and other shaped splats are also used. In ‘Ladderbacks’ all the 3,4 or more ‘rungs’ are effectively cross rails. Because they were simple country chairs, upholstered seats and imported woods such as mahogany were rarely used.
Windsors first appeared in the 18th C and many variants developed both within in England and across the Atlantic in New England over the next 200 years.
Again there is a wide range of styles and quality, from the humble scroll back kitchen chair, through the classic high and low bowbacks, to the very elegant, comb backed, cabriole legged armchairs in yew wood. Elm with its beautifully figured grain was the favoured wood for seats, with ash, yew or beech for legs stretchers and back bows.
Windsors were made in three main regions in England, namely: the Thames Valley including High Wycombe, the West Country and the Eastern counties of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
There are always good examples of an extensive range of country chairs to be found at Hemswell Antiques, particularly from the dealers who specialise in country furniture. (Laurie 'The Chairman' Kent - Antiques Dealer at Hemswell)

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