Empire Chairs?

These looked Empire era to me but a friend disagrees..

What do yall think?

 

Maybe federal?

 

Nice chairs. Kind of hard to peg and I think partially because these are less formal chairs. Maybe meant for kitchen use or in a household of less means. Might even have been for more of an institutional use. Not sure they are even American. Kind of have an English regency look about them but not quite. I do think early 19th century. The backs are oak. Looks like some other wood elsewhere. Birch if American. Probably beech if English or Continental.

 

Oh my! I just noticed that they are not exactly alike. Must get new specs....................must get new specs........must get new specs.........

 

I have always thought, with nothing to back it up, that these caned chairs with the turned outward legs dated to about 1880s. Part of the first production chairs, notice the stretchers and the legs. I've always called them parlor or side chairs.

In doing google image searches, I keep finding that this style chair leg is attributed to the French. Searching for French caned chairs, I can't find support for that.
I'm also finding that this caned chair with these legs were often Japaned (lacquered).

I think the prices being asked are a little high.

A starting point anyway.
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/s...-french-chairs-woven-cane-seats/id-f_6419313/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-ANTIQU...ER-OF-PEARL-INLAID-PARLOR-CHAIRS/190918746608

https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2654M/lots/870

 

Glad to see others having trouble pinning down these chairs. The top rail does have an Empire look, but defintely not broad enough and doesn't curve enough. Following is an example of an Empire chair with this style top rail.
http://www.buffaloah.com/a/virtual/us/gen/liv/int/source/5.html

Note the lack of turnings on the legs, stretches and stiles as your's have.
http://www.buffaloah.com/f/glos/chairs/terms/terms.html#Backs

--- Susan

 

Biedermeier? Probably not

 

Kind of odd. The tops don't really "go" with the rest of the chair. Hmm

 

What about the POB signature?

I'm wondering if this could have been a mix of overlapping periods?
Maybe an apprentices pieces?

Maybe off a plantation type home?