A Windsor Handbook; Comprising Illustrations & Descriptions of Winsor Furniture of All Periods, Including Side Chairs, Arm Chairs, Comb-Backs, Writi (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... Braced-back, Bow, Mahogany-arm Windsor Condition: Fine; slight cut on feet. Merit: High. The seat is excellent and of the early type. The turnings, however, of the spindles are done in a lathe and not by hand. Turnings of legs good, not the best. Date: Middle period. Occurrence: Unusual in so good a form. Owned by Wallace Nutting, Cutler-Bartlet House, Newburyport, Mass. This chair never appears in the generous bigness of the great old comb-backs, but is very convenient for moving about. It shows the refinement of fanciful turnings in the spindles, which never appears in early examples. This type of concaved turning below the vase is said to indicate a Rhode Island origin, but the good effect is here lost by the cutting off of the feet. It is a curious question how the spindles of this chair were turned as the outside ones in the back were pipe stems. They could only have been done by a patient person who was willing to support his work by at least two back rests. The brace spindles are too small to be of much use. Yet there is so much springiness of the back that it has held firmly together. The attachment of the arms to the bow in this style is not structurally good, there being no manner of holding the end wood securely. Round-back Arm Chair with Comb Condition: Rockers not original. Seat strengthened by battens; one arm restored. Merit: Chiefly in its peculiarities. The arms carry a continuation of the bead on the bow. The comb is arched, and nearly follows the line of the bow back. The spindles are brought down to a small diameter below the swell. Turnings, bamboo style. Date: Late. Occurrence: Rare, as regards the shape of arms and bow. Owned by Arthur Leslie Green, Newport, R. I. Chairs having a comb above a bow like the above are...