Decorative Pair of Windsor Style Arm Chairs, Sack Back style of windsor chairs with a continuous outstretched arms, and carved back splat, H:39", Width from arm to arm:22.5", Seat width:18", Seat Height:17", Seat Depth:17 1/4". Windsor chairs were developed in the late 17th century in the vicinity of High Wycombe but named for the local big town of Windsor, Berkshire, England. Their introduction to America seems to have been by the 1726 governor of Pennsylvania, Patrick Gordon. Early construction of the Windsor Chairs that were made in the 1700s, contain three different species of wood, ususally pine or poplar were common for the seat. Elm was also common for seats because its rippled grain gives good cross-grain strength that resists splitting where holes are placed close to the edge of a seat. Maple makes crisp turnings. Oak, ash, and elm were strong woods and steam bend nicely. They are also straight grained and thus work well for slender spindles. With the construction of the Windsor chairs the legs were splayed at angles as well as side-to-side to provide actual and visual support of the chair. Early chairs made in America usually have stretchers connecting the front and back legs and a cross stretcher connecting the two side stretchers, creating what is known as an "H" stretcher assembly, with wedged tenon joints, the purpose was to join all the parts of the chair. This supplies a mechanical hold that will prevail if the glue fails. In general, early Windsor chair joints are held together mechanically, making glue a redundant detail in their assembly. There are many types or styles of the Windsor chair, some other styles besides this Sack Back are Hoop Back, and Comb Back, all are very decorative and quite comfortable. LifestyleAntiques.com is the web site where one can shop on line or if you are in the area we are an antique dealer in Summerland, California just 3 minutes south of Santa Barbara. Specializing in European Antique Furniture and our accent is antique lighting for your home, or office with handmade parchment shades adorning the selection of unique lamps. We specialize in Decorative Arts and French furniture as well as antique furniture from Spain and Italy, you will find the shop warm and inviting.

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