Windsor Chairs
20th Century North American Art Deco Windsor Chairs
Fabric, Wicker
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Windsor Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Windsor Chairs
Wood
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Windsor Chairs
Chrome
Mid-19th Century American Neoclassical Antique Windsor Chairs
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Windsor Chairs
Bamboo, Willow
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Windsor Chairs
Oak
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Windsor Chairs
Beech
Late 19th Century English Antique Windsor Chairs
Yew
Early 19th Century English Antique Windsor Chairs
Ash
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Windsor Chairs
Beech
1960s Belgian Bohemian Vintage Windsor Chairs
Wicker
19th Century English Antique Windsor Chairs
Ash, Elm
Vintage, New and Antique Windsor Chairs
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.