03/07/2023
SALE. A very rare, perhaps completely unique, ‘continuous arm’ Windsor chair. Made exclusively in the South Devon village of Yealmpton, there is no comparable design throughout the rest of the British chair-making tradition. There are similarities to chairs made on the East Coast of the USA and some have suggested that West Country chairmakers emigrated to America and took their traditional methods with them. Whether this is true or not is unclear but it seems plausible.
This particular example is unlike any I’ve seen before, owing to the three central ‘flattened’ spindles or splats. Two have been replaced at some point but one is most certainly original. Perhaps made as a prototype by a chairmaker or to the specification of a client, it has its own unique quirk and charm.
Faux bamboo turned legs with ‘box’ stretcher, rounded elm seat, faux bamboo spindles and three ‘flattened’ splats with a steam-bent continuous arm. All in 19th century black paint with plenty of characterful wear and in places revealing the original cream paint underneath which gives it a most wonderful patina.
Suitable for everyday use.
These chairs rarely come up for sale, let alone such a unique example.
Attributed to Yealmpton, South Devon. c.1820.
H: 89cm W: 55cm D: 55cm
Seat height: 41cm
REDUCED IN OUR SUMMER SALE.
For more details and to purchase, visit the website - cwantiques.co.uk - clickable link in bio, or send a DM.