Chairs

	Windsor chair 1730-1830 One of the most popular of all American chairs is the Windsor. It is not a "high style" piece of furniture, often made by country carpenters. Origins: The Windsor originated in England early in the 18th century, and was first common around the town of Windsor. The withes and bowed shapes that formed the spindles and back wee turned and cut originally near Windsor, hence the name. They were painted green and used as garden chairs. Apparently, the first American Windsors were made in Philadelphia. Beginning about 1730, American craftsmen developed their own distinctive versions. The classic models were made until about 1830, and mass-produced variations and reproductions of this enduring form have been produced ever since. Legs were originally cabriole in shape; later they were made of turnings. Ring-and-vase turnings were typical until about 1800. The larger the turnings, the better the quality. Braced backs are desirable (and more expensive). Bamboo turnings were typical from about 1790-1850. Windsors are all-wood chairs with interlocking parts that were delicately turned or simply cut. The back was made of turned or whittled spindles enclosed by a curving or straight rail. The solid seat was shaped to fit the body. Legs were turned, set at an angle, and reinforced by turned stretchers. One reason for their sturdiness was that parts were made of green wood, which later shrank until the joints were tight. Six basic models are generally distinguished, all of which are detailed below: Low-back, or captain's, chair Hoop-back Comb-back Fan-back Continuous-arm Loop-back Typical woods: Bow - oak. (steamed well) Spindles - ash or maple Seats- pine (easy to shape) Paint: Since different woods had contrasting colors and grains, the chairs were usually painted solid green, red, black, yellow, or white; such paint also protected the wood. After painting, varnish was often applied. Sometimes varnish was mixed with the paint before application. Chairs with original paint are much more highly prized (and more expensive). Seats: Seats were scooped for comfort. If a chair was designed to have the seat covered with leather (and padding below the leather), the seat would be flat, not scooped. After 1860, more than one piece of wood was used for the seat (pieces glued together). Knots that fell out were replaced by another piece of wood cut to fill the hole. "Patina," an important feature, is basically accumulated dirt. Evidence of hand planing is normally found under the seat of chairs made by hand. Chippendale introduced a pierced splat between the rods of the back. Hepplewhite added a wheel-like feature in the center splat. Tapered feet are a characteristic of Windsors made in Rhode Island. Illustration:"Birdcage" side chair - Saturn Club "Birdcage" side chair - Amherst Humphrey House at the Genesee Country Village, & Museum
	Bow-back See loop-back below
	Captain's, chair, with a flat semicircular top rail set on short spindles and doubling as an armrest Also called low-back Illustration: Independence Hall, Philadelphia
	Comb-back, also based on the low-back, with a row of spindles extending well above the arm rail and fitting into a serpentine top rail Fan-backs are very much like comb-backs, except that comb-backs are in 2 distinct sections. Illustration: Hosmer's Inn, Genesee Country Village Museum Independence Hall, Philadelphia Christ Church, Philadelphia Fairmount Park Woodford House, Philadelphia (Second chair) - Fairmount Park Woodford House, Philadelphia Boies-Lord House (Hamburg)
	Continuous-arm, with arms and arched top rail made from a single piece of bentwood
	Fan-back, a side chair with a serpentine top rail like the comb-back, but no dividing arm rail,so that the back consists of long spindles flanked on each side by a heavier turned stile Fan-backs are very much like comb-backs, except that comb-backs are in 2 distinct sections. Illustration: Livingston-Backus House,at the Genesee Country Village, & Museum
	Hoop-back, a modification of the low-back with an arched addition topping the central portion
	Loop-back. a side chair with a sharply bowed backrail enclosing long spindles. Also called bow-back. The greater the bow, the better the quality. Illustration: Braced-back loop-back - George Wythe House, Williamsburg, Va. Old Editions Book Shop and Café
	Low-back See Captain's chair above

Settees

Ten-legged, heavy low-backed - Independence Hall, Philadelphia