Lambing chair ?17th century

Hi all..opinions please on this chair.
I've had it for about 40 years and even though it is very heavy it is also quite comfortable. No nails or screws..the pegs stand proud and although I am not able to get a good picture the arms actually have wavy ripples where the softer part of the wood has worn down.
I just noticed an old thread resurfaced and that reminded me of the chair.

Is this a military piece? | Antiques Board (antiquers.com)

I purchased the chair from a wonderful gentleman who retired to a country home. Mr. T. Lang Moffat. He ran the Moffat works in England during the war and purchased many tyhings from hte Lord Mayor of Blackpool (hope I have the city correct)
All opinions welcome

 

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This came from the same place and perhaps from the same time period

 

Yes,and it turned out to be a interesting conversation and ‘lite’ debate

 

@James Conrad
@verybrad

 

It's an oak "settle" chair, I do not think period, more likely late 19th - early 20th century.
A "settle" bench/chair is meant to capture heat while sitting in front of a fireplace and block cold drafts coming from the other direction.

 

Here is an American early 19th-century settle bench, they often had storage under the seat and more often benches rather than single seats.

 

And another, Settle chair, 19th century sold at Skinner
https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/3021M/lots/67

 

Here is a period Elizabethan Settle at Marhamchurch
https://www.marhamchurchantiques.com/antique/elizabeth-i-joined-oak-settle/

C 1580-1600

 

thank you!

 

Think James has this covered. I have no problem placing this to the 19th century. If 20th, it would be pretty early.

 

Interesting. I always thought of these as monk of church benches

 

Kinda, sorta similar except, a monks bench has a tabletop where the top pivots into a vertical position becoming a settle.

"A monks bench or hutch table is a piece of furniture where a tabletop is set onto a chest in such a way that when the table was not in use, the top pivots to a vertical position and becomes the back of a Settle, and this configuration allows easy access to the chest lid which forms the seat of the piece."

 

Much appreciated James. Thank you for that explanation.

 

No problem, an American version called a "hutch" table, lots of these around from 18th -19th century. Tabletop becomes a settle, all of these forms are related.
They often sell for good money at auction although I have no clue why.

 

I did find this when wondering what a lambing chair was. They seem to refer to this as a box form wing chair.

http://www.lambingchair.com/history.html

 

And not to suggest that lambing chair is an accurate name but my goodness it seems to be used quite a bit as a term for this style of chair.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/sea...=1&pageSize=24&sort=-relevance&status=archive

 

"Hearsay evidence has claimed that these chairs were 'lambing' chairs, a title which suggests that they were used by shepherds"

"Hearsay" being the KEY word there! IE, probably BS.
Has a feeling this "Lambing" chair thingy is a furniture myth, a lot of them out there, bible box, hunt board, bla bla bla

 

I remember now why these "Settle" benches sell for good money, front door entryways.
I was in the market myself once upon a time but could not find one of the right size so gave up and bought a new one.
They work well & very functional but as usual, there is a catch if trying to get an antique one, finding the correct size for your particular entryway.