Circa 1820 Elm and Yew Wood Windsor Captains Armchair With Crinoline Stretcher

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A solid Elm and Yew Wood hand sawn Windsor stick back Captain's Armchair circa 1820. It has crinoline stretchers, elegant … Read more A solid Elm and Yew Wood hand sawn Windsor stick back Captain's Armchair circa 1820. It has crinoline stretchers, elegant pierced splats, turned support spindles, and a curved back It's best feature is that this chair is as comfortable as it is classic.

This Windsor chair is constructed from yew wood which as is a really good feature and it also boasts crinoline stretchers. Not all Windsor chairs had crinoline stretchers, in fact, the majority would have just ordinary H stretchers to support the legs, but again there is something incredibly elegant about the swept crinoline stretchers on these chairs. It is believed the term crinoline is borrowed from the crinoline petticoats which 19th century ladies would utilize below their dresses to enhance their silhouette.

There is evidence of the first Windsor chairs in the late 16th century, but they were very much popularized at the very end of the 18th century and early 19th century onwards. Always constructed from woods which were freely available in the UK, allowing for constant, plentiful supply they are most often found in Ash and Elm, sometimes Fruitwood and least often in Yew Wood. Therefore the Yew Wood examples are nearly always the most sought after and best quality. See less