English Windsor Comb Back Chair
Antique Early 1800s English Country Windsor Chairs
Oak
Antique 18th Century English Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Country Windsor Chairs
Ash, Oak
Antique 1790s English Georgian Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm
Antique 1790s English Windsor Chairs
Elm
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Antique Late 18th Century English Country Windsor Chairs
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Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Windsor Chairs
Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century English Windsor Chairs
Elm
Antique 1760s European Georgian Windsor Chairs
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Antique 18th Century English George III Windsor Chairs
Elm, Fruitwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George II Windsor Chairs
Elm, Oak, Ash
Antique 1780s English Country Windsor Chairs
Elm, Fruitwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Rustic Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm, Walnut
Antique 1780s English Georgian Windsor Chairs
Elm, Ash
Antique 1770s European Country Windsor Chairs
Ash
Antique 1760s English George III Windsor Chairs
Fruitwood
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Windsor Chairs
Ash, Beech
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Windsor Chairs
Elm, Ash, Fruitwood, Beech
Antique 18th Century English George III Windsor Chairs
Yew, Elm
Antique 1770s European Windsor Chairs
Other
Early 20th Century English Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm
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Ash, Oak
Antique 1760s English Chairs
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Armchairs
Ash, Beech
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Ash, Oak
Antique 18th Century Armchairs
Ash, Elm
Antique Early 19th Century English Armchairs
Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century British Country Armchairs
Elm
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George III Armchairs
Fruitwood, Elm
Antique 19th Century British Armchairs
Yew, Elm
Antique 19th Century English Armchairs
Yew
Antique 19th Century English Windsor Chairs
Ash, Beech
Antique 1770s English Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm, Fruitwood
Antique 1780s English Folk Art Windsor Chairs
Ash, Sycamore
Antique Mid-19th Century Great Britain (UK) Windsor Chairs
Elm, Hickory
Early 20th Century American Primitive Windsor Chairs
Antique Late 18th Century English Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm, Walnut
Antique 18th Century English George III Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm, Walnut
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Antique 18th Century and Earlier Windsor Chairs
Antique 19th Century English Windsor Chairs
Beech
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Windsor Chairs
Oak, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Windsor Chairs
Antique Mid-18th Century English Country Windsor Chairs
Beech, Elm
Antique Late 18th Century English Country Windsor Chairs
Elm, Fruitwood
Antique Late 18th Century English Country Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm, Fruitwood
Antique 1780s English Windsor Chairs
Antique 1790s British Country Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm
Antique Early 19th Century English Country Windsor Chairs
Beech, Elm
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Ash, Elm
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Welsh Windsor Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century British Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm
Antique 1780s English George III Windsor Chairs
Iron
Antique Early 1800s English George III Windsor Chairs
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Country Windsor Chairs
Antique 1820s English George IV Windsor Chairs
Beech, Oak
Antique 1790s English George III Windsor Chairs
Walnut
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Finding the Right windsor-chairs for You
Today, antique and vintage Windsor chairs serve as timeless, elegant seating no matter what your interior design preferences might be. Given their long history and versatility, they’re definitely among the chairs you should know when furnishing your new house or apartment.
The Windsor chair originated in the early 1700s in the English town of Windsor. Their bentwood back frames are assembled with slender wooden spindles that are plugged into drill holes in the sculpted seat, which was usually made of elm and slightly sunken or dish-shaped for the sitter’s comfort. The chairs have wooden legs that splay outward to provide stability, and unlike other chair designs, the back legs have no connection to the chair back. According to legend, the Windsor gained popularity after King George III took shelter in a cottage and was invited to sit on one. He was so charmed by the humble design that he had copies made for Windsor Castle.
With the arrival of the 1730s, Windsor chairs made their way to the American colonies. A handful of Windsor chairs are said to have appeared in Philadelphia by the late 1720s, owing to Pennsylvania lieutenant governor Patrick Gordon’s fondness for the seat. Colonial furniture makers sometimes painted their Windsor chairs, which were crafted from a variety of woods such as thick pine, ash or birch. The types of Windsor chairs made in America included chairs with the bentwood bow backs that characterized the English originals as well as other types of chair backs, such as rounded sack backs, backs with tall extensions and more.
Windsor style seating, which includes side chairs, rocking chairs and more, is synonymous with lightness, durability and comfort. These chairs were attractive for their portability and gracefully simple form, which rendered the furnishings versatile. Windsor chairs were frequently used in the gardens of 18th-century country homes, where tea would be served or musical entertainment took place for a modest-sized party. Today, Windsor chairs complement various furniture styles and are a practical seating choice whether you’re outfitting your entertainment room or seeking patio furniture for meals in the great outdoors.
Not all of us have the space for a sumptuous Chesterfield armchair or wingback chair — the adaptable, admirable Windsor chair, alternatively, makes for an ideal accent chair in your living room, while a Windsor bench is a surefire finishing touch to elevate any entryway or foyer. And whether you’re mixing and matching seats for the dining table or in the market for a more streamlined look, consider the Windsor chair for either plan. Find a collection of antique and vintage Windsor chairs on 1stDibs today.
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