The Windsor Chair: Granny's FavoriteThe Windsor style chair is still one of the most popular styles of chair in the U.S and U.K today. There are many theories behind why it is called the Windsor style, but many believe it is because they were manufactured in the late 18th century in the Windsor period of England. The design has remained relatively unchanged since they were first made, mainly due to the fact that they got it perfectly right first time! After all, why fix something that isn't broken? The Windsor-style chair is made from a sturdy seat where all the other components of the chair - the legs, back, arms etc. are fixed into it. It is primarily made up of posts and spindles. The seat is wide, making it comfortable for not only adults but children too. This is the main factor to why it appealed and still appeals to such a wide range of buyer. It has a universal allure, even today. The spindled back, which is very supportive, makes it an incredibly comfortable seat, and this style has never really gone out of fashion. The antique Windsor chair has surpassed time and also different cultures. There are so many variations of antique Windsor chair that you will find and the most common are: fan back, bow back, birdcage, sack back and comb back. These names are fairly self-explanatory and if you come across a Windsor style chair, you can generally name what specific type they are. Many rocking chairs available today, are based on the antique Windsor chair with rockers added to the bottom. Because of its sturdiness, it makes it perfect for a chair that is designed to move over the same positions several times without too much wear and tear. The typical style of an antique Windsor rocking chair, is a very wide seat with a round back and a set of spindles set vertically along the back, and in England in the 1770's, these Windsor rocking chairs were commonly found in gardens and were known as garden chairs. Prices vary amongst antique Windsor chairs, both rockers and standing alike. It depends mostly on the period in which the chair was made, and you can generally tell this by the wood(s) used and the general style of the chair and its features. It also depends on the condition, as some of them can be over a hundred years old and you would expect it to have at least a small amount of damage. All in all, to purchase an antique Windsor chair would be sensible, not only is it a guaranteed investment - it will never go out of fashion, but it is also guaranteed to last the test of time, as so many have done already. So, maybe that explains why this chair was always the Granny's favorite, as I'm sure it will be for many Granny's to come! |