Featured Help with Identifying Wainscott chair

We've had this arm chair stored for over 65 years. It appears to be very old. Held together with wooden pegs or dowels and reinforced (probably at a later date) with nails. I have no knowledge of it other than my father bought it at a 2nd hand store in Providence, Rhode Island. Looking forward to hearing your ideas. I've looked on the Internet and haven't seen anything like it.

 

WELCOME Roger !!! ... Joy.

 

Hello, yes it's a wainscot chair but a revival piece, it's not period.

 

@James Conrad If this chair were "period" what dates are we talking about?

 

17th century, 1600-1700 popular in england & america, it had a long run style wise, 100 years or so.

 

Thanks.

 

No problem, i would add you can buy a wainscot chair built EXACTLY like it was done back then, same tools, same process so the wainscot chair still lives on in a way.
Here is a video clip by Peter Follansby that gives an overview of how they were built in the 17th century

 

Thank you for the link to Youtube.com The building of the wainscot chair was interesting and informative. How can I prove my wainscot chair. Would carbon dating help or is it the front legs that seem to be in the Queen Anne design.

 

that would date the wood...not the chair !!

 

If I took a sample from a carved portion, that would negate it just from the wood.

 

What exactly do you want to prove about it Roger?

Patd

 

carbon dating......so ...age of wood

 

Yes, age of wood and where from, also the carved designs not seen elsewhere. There is a tulip on the bottom skirt which makes me curious.

 

I think Roger may be trying to prove that his chair is a 'period' chair and not just a 'revival' chair. It is still a VERY nice chair Roger, ... Joy.

 

No, carbon dating won't help you, you can ID species yes, dating furniture, no.

By having someone who knows about that particular period of furniture examine the piece. I would note there are only about 30-40 period 17th century american wainscot chairs that exist so, there is that. Many more than that in england, hundreds at least.

 

I would guess your revival chair was late 19th century, Victorian period/era, because the legs are Queen Anne & they often combined several styles into the same piece.