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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: talesofthesevenseas on May 21, 2017, 07:48:28 AM
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Hi gang,
We are looking at a set of six Windsor chairs that we thought might be a good match for our colonial stone house. I need help and advice on this. These photos were taken through the window of the antique store so pardon the photo quality. I can go back to get more photos.
The wear marks on the chairs look very good. The chairs are a little smaller than modern chairs, which has me thinking that this might be an older set. I would love to find something pre-1860s if possible. This set of six is priced at $445 USD.
Any thoughts?
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x124/talesofthesevenseas/0520172042_zpslgsrpb9f.jpg)
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x124/talesofthesevenseas/0520172042b_zpsgn0nkw5m.jpg)
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x124/talesofthesevenseas/0520172042c_zpsr5vemhdd.jpg)
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x124/talesofthesevenseas/0520172042a_zps2gvpuadh.jpg)
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Is the wear the same on all the stretchers approximately ??
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I will go back to check. It is in the right places- stretchers, backs and high spots. Style-wise do you see any problems with these going for a colonial look? A couple of things I noticed are that the legs are not straight up and down, but splayed. Also that the arch of the backs have decorative grooves. Should I be looking for something more simple in design?
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Early American Windsor chairs DO have angled legs - whereas the early English ones do not.
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Found some info on identifying Windsor chairs: http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6009320_identify-age-windsor-chair.html (http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6009320_identify-age-windsor-chair.html) and http://antiques.lovetoknow.com/Antique_Windsor_Chairs (http://antiques.lovetoknow.com/Antique_Windsor_Chairs)
Also I found a nearly identical chair dated 1920 on this page:
https://reserchnrestorys.wordpress.com/chair-seat-weaving-2/
(https://reserchnrestorys.wordpress.com/chair-seat-weaving-2/)
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Another set here dated 1930.
http://www.caningshoppe.com/hiddentreasures.html
(http://www.caningshoppe.com/hiddentreasures.html)Mine do have one additional spindle, in the back, but I think we're looking at early 20th century and not 19th. I think I'm gonna pass on this set and keep looking.
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I saw those as well.
However, these with the high arch most resemble your high back arch. This company made Colonial reproductions which makes yours right in line with the colonial style!
https://www.ebth.com/items/3965071-pair-of-antique-colonial-furniture-company-windsor-chairs (https://www.ebth.com/items/3965071-pair-of-antique-colonial-furniture-company-windsor-chairs)
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Thhe wear on the stretchers is not correct !! Look at where they are located !! Now imagine sitting in one of these chairs and trying to rest your feet there !! Almost impossible to do comfortably !! The stretchers of these chairs would receive the least wear,, not the amount that is there !!
I would say these are early 20th century just from looking at the pics !!
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If it was me, I'd go for high quality reproductions which are not cheap by any means. The reason? because you are not likely to get period (18th century) chairs in a set and even if you did, they would be hideously expensive. 19th century chairs are still reproductions so why not cut to the chase and get new, comfortable high quality windsors? that's what i did years ago. Expect to pay $300-400 per chair and up depending on style, finish, wood and, you can often get them on sale if you can wait.
http://www.greatwindsorchairs.com/dining-kitchen-furniture/windsor-chairs/
I got english reproductions because i liked them better, they were late 17th century style with a curved stretcher. I think i paid 2k for 6 chairs 20 years ago.
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaa, i just learned something new! Those curved stretchers were an english country invention and are called
spur or crinoline stretchers to keep ones spurs from banging into the stretcher! very clever those limeys! My chairs look like this, i got all arm chairs and they are VERY comfortable
https://carlmooreantiques.com/products-page/chairs/a-set-of-stick-back-windsor-dining-chairs/
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Those are nice chairs Jacon4 !! Windsors are one of my favorites !!
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Yeah, mine too, very comfy. You often see sets of good quality repro's at auction, english repro's too that sometimes go very cheap. Naturally, you have to wait and hunt to find them that way. According to that english website above, i don't know if it's correct or not but i love the story!
"A set of spindle back Windsor dining chairs having a spur/crinoline stretcher and a double bow back form from Great Britain. Originally Windsor chairs were a rural/country chair found in the English countryside so they were made to be both durable and functional. The term spur/crinoline stretcher speaks to the evolution of the Windsor chair as it made its way from the country to the city. Used in the countryside, people naturally rode horses and would wear boots with spurs. The inverted half circle shape of the stretcher allowed you to be able to sit on the chair without banging your spurs into the stretcher. As the chair made its way into the city that same half circle shape was found to be useful for the ladies as they wore dresses that had skirts made out of crinoline therefore the back portion of their dress could be tucked up underneath the chair."
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Here we go, six windsor arm chairs at Skinner, current bid, $425 for SIX chairs! One day left on this online auction. That's what i am saying, if you are willing to hunt very little, you can pick up very nice furniture (much of it antique) for a song these days.
http://skinnerlive.auctionserver.net/view-auctions/catalog/id/318/lot/140824
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And another set, 8 english windsors, expected to fetch $500. If you bought new, it would cost $500 per chair!
https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/53128808_set-of-8-windsor-chairs
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Judging by what i see, those chairs she is considering are over priced, at least on the east coast. $445 is pretty steep for 6- 1930 windsor side chairs at auction here, I'd wait if you have time and register at auctions online, you can do much better i think than a retail setting & get MUCH better quality chairs for the same money. If you registered at liveauctioneers, you can put whatever object you are looking for in your alert section and everyday you get email about that object, who is selling it, bla bla bla.
https://new.liveauctioneers.com/
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If you are just going for the look,,I like the chairs at Skinners !!