What is a Windsor back chair?

A Windsor back chair is a solid wooden chair with an arched spindle back. Most designs have curved arms positioned on angled stands and carved legs connected by a cross stretcher. The chair gets its name from the English city of Windsor, where the chairs were first made in the 18th century. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Windsor back chairs.

How do you identify a Windsor chair?

To identify a Windsor chair, look at how it was made. On authentic pieces, the 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. Shop a range of Windsor chairs on 1stDibs.

Why is it called a Windsor chair?

A Windsor chair is called that after the town where it was first made, Windsor, England. In 1710, artisans in the village began producing wooden spindle chairs. Craftsmen in the American colonies began making their own versions in the 1730s. A handful of Windsor chairs are said to have appeared in Philadelphia by the late 1720s, however, 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. On 1stDibs, shop a range of antique Windsor chairs.

What is a Windsor rocking chair?

A Windsor rocking chair is built for comfort and is usually manufactured in such a way that the seat’s spindles, along with the chair-back and legs, are pushed into holes that have been drilled. This sets this type of chair apart, as the standard construction of a chair sees that the back legs are continuous. The Windsor chair originated in the early 1700s in the English town of Windsor. As mentioned, 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. Shop a collection of antique and vintage Windsor rocking chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

How do I identify a Windsor rocking chair?

To identify a Windsor rocking chair, enlist the help of a licensed furniture appraiser. Many convincing distressed reproductions exist due to their popularity and value. An experienced professional can accurately determine if yours is an authentic antique or a replica. Find a range of expertly vetted Windsor rocking chairs on 1stDibs.

How much is a Windsor chair worth?

A set of antique Windsor chairs can sell from about $500 to well into the thousands, depending on the quality and condition. Single chairs range from about $100 to thousands, with age being a major factor in value. Find a range of antique vintage Windsor and other chairs on 1stDibs.

Windsor Writing Chair

Original Water Colour Paintings

Thomas Jefferson

Unusual Wood Chairs

Museum Grade Sculpted Tall Oak 2-Drawer Writing Windsor Chair / Desk, C.1890s

$6,703

H 50.5 in W 36 in D 24 in

Museum Grade Sculpted Tall Oak 2-Drawer Writing Windsor Chair / Desk, C.1890s

Located in Germantown, MD

The Comb-Back, spindle and brace back Windsor Writing chair / Desk features a traditional sack-back

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Windsor Chairs

Materials

Oak

19Thc Original Paint Decorated Writing Arm Windsor Chair

$7,750

H 49 in W 26 in D 32 in

19Thc Original Paint Decorated Writing Arm Windsor Chair

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Title - American Windsor arm Chair all original paint decoration.Super strong and sturdy

Category

Antique Late 18th Century American Adirondack Chairs

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

18th Century New York Comb Back Writing Arm Windsor Chair

Unavailable

H 44.25 in W 34 in D 17 in

18th Century New York Comb Back Writing Arm Windsor Chair

Located in Woodbury, CT

New York comb back writing arm Windsor, having curved serpentine crest rail (Ash), the ears with

Category

Antique 1790s American American Colonial Windsor Chairs

Materials

Ash, Maple, Poplar

Unusual Paint Decorated Windsor Writing Armchair, Mid-19th Century, MA

Unavailable

H 34 in W 31 in D 17.5 in

Unusual Paint Decorated Windsor Writing Armchair, Mid-19th Century, MA

Located in Providence, RI

This is a wonderful country writing chair for an adult, that an adult and/or child can use in a

Category

Antique 19th Century American Windsor Chairs

Materials

Wood

Child's Yellow Painted Writing Arm Windsor Chair, 20th Century

Sold

H 32 in W 25.75 in D 13.5 in

Child's Yellow Painted Writing Arm Windsor Chair, 20th Century

Located in Big Flats, NY

Child's writing arm Windsor chair offers yellow painted tall back chair with scroll crest

Category

20th Century American American Colonial Windsor Chairs

Materials

Wood

Large American Windsor Desk Chair

Sold

H 46.5 in W 31 in D 29 in

Large American Windsor Desk Chair

Located in Austin, TX

A handsome large American Windsor high back desk (or writing) chair with original painted finish

Category

Antique 19th Century American Windsor Chairs

RARE LOWBACK WINDSOR WRITING ARMCHAIR W/DRAWERS

Sold

H 32 in W 32 in D 32 in

RARE LOWBACK WINDSOR WRITING ARMCHAIR W/DRAWERS

Located in Los Angeles, CA

RARE STATE OF MAINE ORIGINAL PAINT DECORATED LOWBACK WINDSOR WRITING ARMCHAIR W/ DRAWERS IN

Category

Antique 19th Century American Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Signed Original Andrew Wyeth Water Color "Early October"

Sold

H 19 in W 15 in D 1 in

Signed Original Andrew Wyeth Water Color "Early October"

By Andrew Wyeth

Located in Los Angeles, CA

and matting was never removed . The water color depicts a writing arm Windsor chair in the early fall

Category

Vintage 1960s American Paintings

Vintage Curtis Products American Colonial Maple Windsor Writing Desk Arm Chair

Sold

H 40.5 in W 33.5 in D 28 in

Vintage Curtis Products American Colonial Maple Windsor Writing Desk Arm Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Curtis Products American Colonial Maple Wood Windsor writing desk arm chair. Item features

Category

Mid-20th Century North American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple

Frederick Duckloe Cherry Windsor Spindle Back Right and Left Writing Desk Chairs

Sold

H 46 in W 33 in D 33 in

Frederick Duckloe Cherry Windsor Spindle Back Right and Left Writing Desk Chairs

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Frederick Duckloe Cherry Windsor Spindle Back Right and Left Writing Desk Chair - a Pair. Item

Category

Mid-20th Century American Colonial Desks

Materials

Cherry, Oak

Original Signed and Dated 1961 Andrew Wyeth Limited Edition Print

Sold

H 19 in W 15 in D 1 in

Original Signed and Dated 1961 Andrew Wyeth Limited Edition Print

Located in Los Angeles, CA

fantastic original frame and matting was never removed. The print depicts a writing arm Windsor chair in the

Category

Vintage 1960s American Paintings

Late 19th-Early 20th Century Colonial Revival, Windsor Writing Armchair

Sold

H 46 in W 36.25 in D 31 in

Late 19th-Early 20th Century Colonial Revival, Windsor Writing Armchair

Located in Tucson, AZ

Professionally restored late 19th-early 20th century American Colonial revival, windsor writing

Category

Antique Early 1900s American Colonial Revival Windsor Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th C SEA CAPTAIN'S WINDSOR WRITING ARM CHAIR

Sold

H 31 in W 30.5 in D 33 in

19th C SEA CAPTAIN'S WINDSOR WRITING ARM CHAIR

Located in Essex, MA

Early sea captain's writing windsor arm chair, designed for multifunctional use aboard a ship, the

Category

Antique 19th Century Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Set of 4 Biedermeier Chairs, South German, 1820

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Located in Belmont, MA

This set of 4 Biedermeier chairs dates back to around 1820 and comes from southern Germany. The chairs feature a pretty cherry veneer. The back shows a very unusual interlacing eboni...

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Unique Pair Handcrafted Pure Art Deco Fan Design Alabaster Wall Sconces, 1920s

$2,717 / set

H 8.2 in W 7.4 in D 2.6 in

Unique Pair Handcrafted Pure Art Deco Fan Design Alabaster Wall Sconces, 1920s

Located in Lisse, NL

Handcrafted and very stylish pair of Art Deco white and black veins alabaster wall lights. If you are looking for a great shape and practical size pair of sconces to grace your livi...

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Alabaster, Metal

Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light

$2,000 / item

H 8.5 in Dm 17.5 in

Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light

By DBO Home

Located in Sharon, CT

Classic, elegant, with a perfectly imperfect touch. We just love our new porcelain Parasol Fluted Pendants. Inspired by a vintage pie cover, we designed them to hang over our kitchen...

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21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants

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Pair of Yngve Ekström "Arka" Easy Arm Chairs in Oak Produced in Sweden, 1950s

$4,831 / set

H 25.99 in W 27.96 in D 22.05 in

Pair of Yngve Ekström "Arka" Easy Arm Chairs in Oak Produced in Sweden, 1950s

By Yngve Ekström

Located in Stockholm, SE

Rare pair of curved mid century "Arka" arm easy chairs in stained oak by Yngve Ekström produced in Sweden 1950s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H: 66 cm / 26" W: 71 cm / 2...

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Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs

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Oak

Adolf Loos Corner Chair, F.O. Schmidt, Oak Wood Leather, Jugendstil, 1898-1900

$6,900

H 31.5 in W 20.48 in D 22.45 in

Adolf Loos Corner Chair, F.O. Schmidt, Oak Wood Leather, Jugendstil, 1898-1900

By Adolf Loos, Friedrich Otto Schmidt

Located in Hausmannstätten, AT

A corner armchair designed by Adolf Loos (1870-1933) and manufactured by Friedrich Otto Schmidt, Vienna, Austria, circa 1900. The condition of the wood is very good. The leather seat...

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Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Corner Chairs

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Antique 18th Century Georgian George III Mahogany Tallboy Chest on Chest, 1760

$3,495

H 78 in W 45.5 in D 23 in

Antique 18th Century Georgian George III Mahogany Tallboy Chest on Chest, 1760

Located in Portland, OR

A fine quality George III flame mahogany chest on chest/tallboy, circa 1760. This elegant Georgian mahogany chest on chest is of the finest quality and is made from solid Cuban flame...

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Antique 1760s English George III Dressers

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Mahogany

Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk

$3,995

H 43.5 in W 30.25 in D 13.63 in

Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk

By Gustav Stickley

Located in South Bend, IN

A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk By Gustav Stickley USA, Circa 1900 Quarter sawn oak, with original hammered copper hardware. Mea...

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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

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Copper

18th Century Bentwood Windsor Chair

$1,500

H 33 in W 25.5 in D 26 in

18th Century Bentwood Windsor Chair

Located in Stockton, NJ

An interesting late 18th century elm Windsor chair. Interesting and rare continuous bentwood hoop back construction.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century American American Colonial Windsor Chairs

Materials

Wood

18th C Dimes Extended Arm Sack Back Windsor Chair

$1,895

H 48 in W 24 in D 18 in

18th C Dimes Extended Arm Sack Back Windsor Chair

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This 18th C extended arm sack back Windsor is from New England. This comes to us from a private collection.This is stamped Dimes underneath the seat.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century American American Classical Windsor Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Modern 1960s Plycraft George Mulhauser “Mr. Chair” and Ottoman

$6,500 / set

H 36.5 in W 36.5 in D 35 in

Mid Century Modern 1960s Plycraft George Mulhauser “Mr. Chair” and Ottoman

By Plycraft, George Mulhauser

Located in Phoenix, AZ

1960s vintage Mr. Chair and ottoman by George Mulhauser for Plycraft. This iconic mid century modern chair features sculptural bent walnut armrests and brand new black vinyl tufted u...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Walnut

18th c. English Thames Valley Windsor Armchair

$3,900

H 39 in W 19.5 in D 21 in

18th c. English Thames Valley Windsor Armchair

Located in Greenwich, CT

Charming late 18th Century English Thames Valley "hoop back" Windsor armchair in ash and elm, the hoop with 10 supporting spindles and the continuous arm with crook supports and fain...

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Antique 1790s English Country Windsor Chairs

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Ash, Elm

18th c. English Comb Back Windsor Armchair

$5,900

H 44 in W 23 in D 22 in

18th c. English Comb Back Windsor Armchair

Located in Greenwich, CT

Rustic comb-back West Country Windsor armchair, having shaped crest over spindle back, the narrow arm with bentwood supports and turned spindles, the shallow seat over pole turned le...

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Antique Early 19th Century English Rustic Windsor Chairs

Materials

Ash

4 Rustic Oak Arne Hovmand Olsen Dining Chairs for Mogens Kold Mobelfabrik 1950

$3,863

H 31.5 in W 19.3 in D 18.51 in

4 Rustic Oak Arne Hovmand Olsen Dining Chairs for Mogens Kold Mobelfabrik 1950

By Mogens Kold Møbelfabrik, Arne Hovmand-Olsen

Located in DE MEERN, NL

Welcome to the epitome of mid-century rustic charm – a set of four dining-room chairs designed by the legendary Arne Hovmand Olsen for Mogens Kold Mobelfabrik in Denmark. Crafted wit...

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Rustic Dining Room Chairs

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Oak

Old Hickory American Provincial Paddle Arm Lounge Chair c 1940's

$975

H 35 in W 25 in D 21 in

Old Hickory American Provincial Paddle Arm Lounge Chair c 1940's

By Old Hickory Furniture Company

Located in New York, NY

Classic American Rustic furniture - lounge, armchair, made by the Old Hickory Furniture Company circa 1940's. The chair features a solid oak frame with a woven wicker backrest, it...

Category