'Goldsmith chair'. Windsor armchair with comb-back, painted beech and elm, England, 1760-65

Windsor armchair of beech and elm, painted.
The back is of comb form, with two diagonal stays behind, locating in a small, rectangular extension to the circular seat, which is saddle-shaped on its front edge, and reaching to the top rail, which is curved in plan and also shows a shallow curve on the top edge, with circular form at either side. The arm bow, with scrolling ends, is made in two sections, cut to shape and joined by a half-lap joint. It is supported at either end on backward curving uprights, or tapering form The uprights, formed with a spoke-shave, run through the arm bow. The legs are heavily splayed and all four show the same decorative turnings. They are joined by three stretchers set in H-form, each swelling in the centre.
Underneath the top layer of black paint, green paint is visible.

The circular 'ears' at either end of the top rail, and the joint in the centre of the arm bow, are both indicative of manufacture in the Thames Valley.

Given by Lady Hawes

The chair belonged to the author Oliver Goldsmith. He bequeathed it on his death in 1774 to his friend Dr William Hawes, founder of the Humane Society. It was given to the V&A in 1872 by Lady Hawes, widow of Sir Benjamin Hawes, a descendant of Dr Hawes, together with his writing box, museum number 542-1872, and his walking cane. Consequently Windsor chairs of this type are sometimes known as Goldsmith chairs.

Oliver Goldsmith (1730–1774), the Anglo-Irish writer, poet and physician best known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), and his play She Stoops to Conquer (first performed in 1773).

At some point in the later 19th century or very early 20th century Liberty & Co. produced a version of this chair with a solid central splat (presumably and addition to improve comfort). An example was offered for sale by Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury, 19 June 2024, lot 276.

Underneath the top layer of black paint, green paint is visible. It is possible that this was used by Goldsmith in his London garden, as such chairs for garden use were frequently painted green.

Windsor chairs of this type are sometimes described as 'Goldsmith' chairs, from Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774), the celebrated writer of 'The Vicar of Wakefield', who once owned this example. It was given to the Museum in 1872 in view of its associations with Goldsmith, along with his writing box and walking cane. A Windsor chair is characterised by its construction; the seat is of solid wood, with legs and arm-supports dowelled into it. The name probably derives from the town of Windsor in Berkshire, which is situated on the river Thames and was ideally located as a distribution point for chairs made in the Thames Valley region, where many chairs of this type were made.

538-1872