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Rare Late 18th Century George III “Gothick” Yew Wood Windsor Chair

Offered by: The Fortress

Description
Decorative, rare Yew Wood and Elm Windsor chair, probably made in the Thames Valley, at the end of the 18th century, George III style, with exceptional color and very good condition, commensurate with age and use.

Eighteenth century chairs with Gothic shaped backs and pierced splats are often considered to represent the pinnacle of Windsor-chair design, and are extremely rare.

There are supposedly about 2 dozen 'Gothick' Windsor chairs known and believed to be period examples, made ca. 1740-1760. It is believed that period examples are always made of yew wood and elm for the seat.

An example is illustrated in ‘The English Regional Chair’ and is attributed to London/Thames Valley, and a similar chair is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, although made of Yew wood and Mahogany.

Comparing our chair (made of yew wood, having an elm seat and straight back-legs with only one turned knob, all the right attributes of an early example), we can observe very slight differences: the pegged joint at the tip of the back-splat (instead of an inset sliver of wood), no thin groove around the edge of the back-frame, the slightly less splayed, “prancing” stance of the front-cabriole legs, and the overall more sturdy appearance that make us cautiously believe that our chair was probably made a little bit later, around 1780-1800. The chair is a beautiful example, with a wonderful deep patina and shows the right amount of use and age as to be expected.

More Information

Origin:	England
Period:	18th Century
Materials:	Yew wood, Elm
Condition:	Good. Wear consistent with age and use
Creation Date:	c. 1775
Styles / Movements:	Revival, George III, Gothic
Dealer Reference #:	E_863
Incollect Reference #:	253136

Dimensions

W.	21 in;	H.	40 in;	D.	22.5 in;
W.	53.34 cm;	H.	101.6 cm;	D.	57.15 cm;

Seat H.	18.5 in;
Seat H.	46.99 cm;

Message from Seller:

The Fortress, located in Troy, NY, specializes in early antiques from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. With a history deeply rooted in the city's textile industry, it now serves as a hub for high-end antique collections, blending history with refined taste. For inquiries, contact The Fortress at 518.271.4150 or email info@fortressverve.com.