Featured Age of Windsor Chair

This was purchased at an antique fair in the midwest. Is there any real age to it or is it a reproduction? Any help is appreciated!

 

Think this has some real age. Looks to be a one board seat, though split made me think 2 at first. Not really my area of expertise but would think at least early 19th century, if not older. Do all the leg tips have holes/nails? If so, was probably once a rocker.

 

Very nice chair and lots of character. That looks properly old to me (but wait for the members that really know furniture to comment)

 

Yes, all of the legs have the holes/nails.

 

Yes, this looks right for a late 18th century sack back Windsor. Even better, it is a rare “triple back” thanks to the seven spindle comb on top. It looks to have original pieces without replacements, though obviously has had a lot of repairs over the years, especially on the crest rail and seat. And of course it has been heavily refinished and all paint traces removed.

Agree you should figure out those nail holes on the foot - saw you did, so yes, once had rockers added, but luckily not much height removed. Rockers were a fairly common add on to chairs like this that did not have them originally, and always sad to see a fine old Windsor with feet cut off to add rockers. But luckily yours escaped that fate with only a few added nail/screw holes. Likely from Massachusetts or at least New England.

Curious how it was described at the antique fair?

 

Described as "old windsor chair" lol

 

@Jeff Drum So, not a bad deal for $200?

 

I think so, I could see it doing that and better at auction when properly described, if there are collectors there who know what it is. This assumes it is safe to sit on and lean back on - looks like the repairs to the seat and crest are holding. The triple back comb is a big plus, and makes up for the breaks in the crest rail and lack of paint.

And a big plus of all these antique Windsor’s, I’ll bet it is really comfortable to sit on!

 

And just TRY and find a solid board seat new, at any price. If it's a decent price, bring it home and give it a nice beeswax polishing and sit in it. At $200 you'd be paying about a buck a year for it.

 

It's definitely comfortable!

 

Good point!

 

Looks like, over the years, someone's taken the time and expertise to do some nice repairs, as mentioned above!!! GREAT chair!!! Just to put a couple more eyes on it, for the fun of it..... @Ghopper1924 & @James Conrad !!

 

Don't know anything about these but was it normal to make a chair with the seat and legs out of maple and the arm and head rest out of oak ? And it's hard to see but it looks like the larger spindles under the arm rests are maple again and the back spindles are oak . I could swear the armrests are new with a dark stain in the grain.

 

Yes, it was common to make windsor chairs out of multiple woods. The armrests are definitely not new.

 

it's the opposite of that....
the grain is showing off the age of a well used chair..

 

It's hand-made so before 1840s, wedges in leg posts on seat & arms plus single board seat kinda confirm that. Built by a professional chairmaker, known as a Boston or Thomas rocker,
"Also known as a Thomas Rocker Same comfort as the Boston Sack-Back but with traditional rocker rails and a head rest comb."
Here is a repro that sells for $900.
http://www.thewindsorchairshop.net/styles_prices__services



Yes, agree it was probably a rocker originally.

Indeed, very common with Windsors which is why they were almost always painted originally, chair parts were usually ash, oak, maple or poplar & seats pine. Most have been stripped over the years as has this one.

No, not a repro, it's a period chair, I'd guess late 18th- early 19th century & $200 was fair considering the seat is split, removed rockers & stripped. You did well I'd say & the sack back to comb back thingy is charming.

 

YAY James......... great info !!!!

 

In the UK, these were a mix of all or any of ash, elm and yew.

 

Thank you so much for the information! Much appreciated

 

Thank you, everyone! I feel vindicated with my whim purchase