Child's Windsor Chair thumbnail 1
Child's Windsor Chair thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Child's Windsor Chair

1800-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a classic Windsor chair type, scaled down for use by a child. Windsor chairs are the best-known form of regional chair, produced in many areas of Britain. They were comfortable and strong, but also relatively cheap, and were therefore suitable for use in cottages, farm-houses and taverns. They were made in large numbers from the mid-18th century to the end of the 19th century.

The term 'Windsor chair' was first used in the 18th century but its origin is not clear. Windsor chairs are defined by having a solid wooden seat into which the chair-back and legs are dowelled, or pushed into drilled holes, in contrast to standard chairs, where the back legs and the uprights of the back are continuous. The seats of Windsor chairs were often carved into a shallow dish or saddle shape for comfort. The legs and uprights were usually turned on a pole-lathe, as in this chair.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Turned and carved yew with ash seat
Brief description
Turned and carved yew with an ash seat
Physical description
Small child's Windsor chair with a solid shaped seat into which are dowelled four turned legs, without stretchers. The bow-shaped back rest is dowelled into the seat with five turned posts on each side and a vase-shaped pierced splat in the centre. The upper part of the back rest is arched.
Dimensions
  • Height: 61cm
  • Width: 37cm
  • Depth: 33cm
Gallery label
Country chairs as well as high quality chairs were adapted for the use of children. This is a scaled-down version of a standard adult's windsor chair, with its hoop back and turned legs. Such simple, strong chairs were very suitable for the purpose.(1996)
Credit line
Given by A. W. Leatham, Esq.
Summary
This is a classic Windsor chair type, scaled down for use by a child. Windsor chairs are the best-known form of regional chair, produced in many areas of Britain. They were comfortable and strong, but also relatively cheap, and were therefore suitable for use in cottages, farm-houses and taverns. They were made in large numbers from the mid-18th century to the end of the 19th century.

The term 'Windsor chair' was first used in the 18th century but its origin is not clear. Windsor chairs are defined by having a solid wooden seat into which the chair-back and legs are dowelled, or pushed into drilled holes, in contrast to standard chairs, where the back legs and the uprights of the back are continuous. The seats of Windsor chairs were often carved into a shallow dish or saddle shape for comfort. The legs and uprights were usually turned on a pole-lathe, as in this chair.
Collection
Accession number
W.33-1924

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Record createdMay 1, 2006
Record URL
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