Antique chair. Modified chamberpot chair?

So this chair usually has a knitted circular pad on it and currently resides in our basement. I took the pad off and noticed it has a square that was once cut out and I was wondering is this because it was used as a chamberpot chair? It is atleast 85-100 years old and has been in my Indiana roots family for some time I believe. Thoughts? Design of chair? Functionality an a reason for cutout and fill in? Rarity?

 

Never a chamberpot. Chairs like this sometimes originally had leather insets like this or may have been converted from a cane seat. Can't tell from your pic but maybe the inset is plywood with holes? There were also some seats like this but this does not look original.

 

Need a better picture of the chair itself.
Best guess from the pictures provided. Originally had a cane seat. When it wore out, rather than re-cane, someone cut a board and nailed it on.

Kitchen chair NOT a potty chair.
Early 1900s oak.

 

Very observant! We do own/did own some cane seat chairs from the same origin I expect this one had a period "reseating". We also have some of these "birthing chairs" that I understand are a 1940s creation that were meant to be sold as antiques when new... can someone confirm this?

 

Please, please, please, you need to choose full image when posting photos! I know others have asked you and given you instructions on how to do it. It's not hard and it will get you more help when you are asking for help

 

Lots of folks have mentioned it. I'm just not going to bother clicking on the links so I stopped looking at his posts.

 

I also have noticed that there are those who choose to continue to use the small thumbnails, and I too do not click on them any longer.....might be my loss, but the rest of us had to learn at some point and do it, so...........we DO like to help those who truly want to learn............

 

i have tried to edit this post. it was made prior to my having the know-how on pressing the post as full image. sorry! ive only been reminded 6 times... ill post more pics with the acceptable format. just for you all

 

LOL, OK! that's what i am talkin about! Get a lil drama goin over here in the furniture section, a bit slow these past few days.
Dog Days of summer here in the Carolinas, how hot is it? it's so hot that at 5 a.m. the cold water for my morning coffee here is WARM! even after i let faucet run for a couple mins.

 

We don't mean to be critical - we just want to help you get the most out of your questions and that would allow more people to see your items. If you're ever going to try and sell online, knowing how to take great pictures is a real help.

 

Yes, i know that Bev, just couldn't resist stirring the pot a bit! plus it gives a bump to the poster thread

 

Hey if no one stirred pots then all the food would stick to the bottom here's The same pictures in correct format. This chair has been broken & glued on the back. The one I'm really wondering about now is the ones I'll post Next below..

 

Well, if you google "antique birthing chair", you will find several similar in style.

There is also a site supposedly "dedicated to items that are frequently identified incorrectly as medical antiques" whose owner claims:

Numerous examples of this sort of chair are in the market. They are usually called birthing chairs. I suspect that they are made for the South American tourist market.

from:
http://www.antiquescientifica.com/alerts.htm

Personally, I have no idea, but I certainly can't imagine having to give birth in/on that thing!

 

I read that exact thing/source or a very similar one many years ago about birthing chairs. If i remember correctly they came to our possession on the east coast from family who live/lived in Indiana,U.S.A.

 

I agree! Just imagine a portly woman, pregnant, trying to balance herself in that chair whilst in labor! What a sight it would be