Windsor Chair expert opinion wanted

My wife found this for our collection at a general antique street fair. I walked up just as she paid and was quite impressed by it. It was $40. It seemed exceptional at first glance, something about it beyond the obvious allure of the crusty black over green and nice warm presence.
I realized that what I was attracted to was the flattened back arch and the parallel non-splayed back legs. I can't find any others with the same characteristics in any photos. Our one other sack back is of the typical style, and if this one was of that style I wouldn't be seeking any opinions.
If anyone can answer 1) does this have a recognizable regional ID?, 2) how desirable would the variation be?, 3) is it a "good" Windsor in general.
I'd appreciate any opinions from those who know way more about these than I do.
Thanks!

 

I think this one has good potential. I am not versed well enough in the nuances of early furniture to be able to guide you much. It is of a basic New England form but beyond that I don't know. I see the grain in the seat runs cross-wise. Would think this a distinguishing feature as well as those shapely arms.

 

It's certainly attractive.

Debora

 

The shape is absolutely a classic Windsor - which amuses me always, as these were Buckinghamshire made. Having said that, the struts are too thin and spindly for a British one.

 

If memory serves me (which unfortunately is not always the case)
There is a very good book out on Windsor chairs. Maybe your library can find it for you.

 

Oh my, I'm green with jealousy over this sack-back Windsor. I think you may have a prize. I can't tell region of origin. Following is a link to skinner Windsor chair auctions. One of them is presumably a NYC c1785-1790 sack-back. It looks very similar to yours with differences in the leg turnings. The strechers seem to have identical turnings to yours. There is only one pic. Wish there more to better compare with yours. The one in the link, looks like it may have been refinished or at least repainted? The first page at the bottom has auctions for New England sack-backs.

Lot 380 is said to be NYC 1785-1790.
Lot 101 & lot 102 New England late 18th century
https://www.skinnerinc.com/search?s=Windsor+chair

Do note Lot 101 is black with remnants of yellow stripping. I believe yours has remnants of yellow stripping on the leg turnings. I can't tell if the seat on your chair is saddle shaped like Lots 101, 102. I have only looked at the 1st page.

I think that book is Charles Santore's Windsor Style in America. There may be more than 1 volume.

--- Susan

 

Here is a link to A Guide to Eighteen-Century Windsor Chairs, a history of the chair from when 1st made in England to the 1st ones in America made in Philadelphia in the 1740s. The making of them then moved nirth to NYC and Newport. It seems the first sack-backs made in America were done in Philly as copies of the English. In the following years the design moved up the coast to NYC and the coastal areas of New England. They were popular up into the 1780s. There is a pic of a New York sack-back.
http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=199

Here is a c1785 Phidelphia sack-back. Between you, me and the fence post, I can't tell the difference between it and the New Yor City sack-back.
http://www.earlyamericanart.org/source/chairs in the exhibit/widdifieldchair.html

--- Susan

Edit: the arms on yours are callered paddle arms. Sack-backs also came with knuckle arms.

 

Thank you Susan.
I have had the Skinner Auction site bookmarked for a couple of years and pulled up a search yesterday for sack backs and came up with 6 pages to look at. (Lots 39, 609 and 1155 on my page 3- while not specifically looking like mine, I have to say that they were stunning.)
I love that archive as a go to for early American stuff. The ones you noted as well are nice. It's the non-splayed back legs and squared top crown that have me working my research yet I'm just not finding.
Although, it's tempting to think that the blue New York sack back fig 3 in the Evans link article is as close as I've yet seen, and this link is greatly appreciated. Based upon that article I feel confident that the $70 for her book "American Windsor Furniture- Specialized Forms" will be a good investment.
Somewhere I have a big heavy Wallace Nutting book but can't find it. Perhaps his smaller Windsor book will be of use as well.
Thanks again for the effort to get me closer!

 

so...r we expert enuf for ya..?

 

You're welcome, but I didn't add anything to what you already know.

Found the book American Windsor Furniture: Styles and Technologies online. It has a section on sack-backs. "Section 6 Sack-Back Chairs," pp. 49-63
https://books.google.com/books?id=i...oAQgqMAY#v=snippet&q=sack-back chairs&f=false

--- Susan