Windsor Chair History
As documented in several publications, Windsor furniture originated in England around 1720. While originally Windsor chairs were outdoor chairs, they quickly expanded their use to the dining room. About a decade later, the Windsor design migrated to America. Over time, colonial craftsmen modified the design to the classic forms we often see today.
The American Windsor chair has two aesthetic differences from the English Windsor style. Instead of featuring curved cabriole legs, American Windsor chairs have tapered, turned legs. Secondly, American chair makers also replaced back splats—a prominent feature of English Windsor chairs—with hand drawn spindles.
Antique Windsor chairs have lasted over centuries due to their intentional construction techniques. Depending on their region, colonial chair makers constructed the seat—the cornerstone of the chair—from white pine or poplar. Traditionally made from hard maple or hickory, Windsor chair legs taper and secure to the seat bottom. Bent pieces and spindles typically are formed from ash, white oak, or hickory wood. To achieve the distinct steam-bent back of a Windsor chair, furniture makers use a green log, freshly cut within six months.
Comb Back Windsor Chair
Windsor Chair Construction
Windsor chair makers have passed down traditional techniques for over 200 years. Each step—from the carefully steam-bent wood to the hand-drawn spindles—requires finesse and refinement.
Sourcing Materials
First, a chair maker needs to source materials, starting with a green log of white oak, hickory, or ash. In addition, a chair requires a single plank of white pine or poplar for the seat and hard maple or hickory for the legs and stretcher.
Shaping the seat
After drawing a seat pattern on the pine plank, chair makers hand drill holes for the legs and spindles. The contour of the chair seat is hand scooped with an inshave and travisher.
Drawing the seat pattern on a pine plank
Riving the wood
The green log is then rived—or split—to ensure a continuous grain of wood for the legs, spindles, and back. This step plays an important role in ensuring strength and durability in each piece.
Forming the chair back
To form the chair back, some of the split green wood is then shaped, steam bent, and placed in a drying box before assembly. Each spindle is hand drawn down to 3/8’’ on a shaving horse—a primitive seated bench with a foot-operated clamp. Lastly, chair legs are turned on a lathe using a technique called turning between centers.
Steam bending the back of a Windsor chair
Assembling the chair
After all parts are assembled, legs are fitted into the tapered sockets on the seat bottom and secured with wedges. Once the moisture content in the chair back and spindles reduces, they are also secured with wedges to the seat. Attaching these pieces individually—instead of fitting an all-in-one back and leg piece—creates the exceptional stability of Windsor chair design.
Drilling sockets into chair legs
Painting and Finishing
Finally, a classic Windsor chair is finished with milk paint. In recent years, some chair makers finish chairs with a clear varnish to showcase the grain of the wood.
These colonial techniques have lasted for over 200 years for a reason. With proper care, your Windsor chair can become an heirloom for generations to come.
Windsor Chair Styles
While many Windsor chair styles exist, a few forms have gained noted popularity. From the stately continuous arm chair to the practical Windsor bench, each form will add elegance to your space.
Bow Back Windsor Chair
Sack Back Windsor Chair
Continuous Arm Windsor Chair
Windsor Chair Legs
American Windsor chairs typically have three distinct wood-turned chair leg styles.
Bamboo Style
Baluster Style
Philadelphia Style
Windsor Chair Finishes
In the 18th century, chairs were typically finished with a milk paint. This finish helps highlight the elegance of the form. Some popular milk paint colors include black, mustard, green, red and blue.
Several layers of milk paint are typically applied. Then, three layers of varnish help seal the paint. Finally, chair makers hand-rub a finishing wax to complete the chair.
At times, a modern Windsor chair is finished with a natural clear satin varnish to highlight the grain of the wood. In these instances, cherry or walnut wood are used to form the seat and legs.
Interested in constructing your own Windsor chair?
Join me in my workshop for a Windsor chair building class!