A Fine Pair of English Bow-Back Windsor Armchairs, Circa 1840-1870

A particularly fine and increasingly difficult-to-find pair of English bow-back Windsor armchairs dating from the mid-19th century.

Constructed in mixed timbers, including yew and elm, the chairs display beautifully figured seats with rich swirling grain, exceptional colour and a patina acquired through generations of use. The generous bow backs, well-shaped arm bows and slender turned legs give the pair an elegance and lightness often absent from later Windsor chairs.

Remarkably well preserved, they retain an honest surface and warmth of colour throughout. The seat timber is especially striking, with beautiful swirling figuring and rich tonal variation that gives the chairs real presence whilst remaining firmly rooted in the English vernacular tradition.

Both comfortable and highly decorative, these are versatile chairs that sit equally well around a dining table, beside a fireplace or as occasional seating. A genuine pair of exceptional quality and remarkable condition, combining practicality, craftsmanship and enduring appeal.

England, Circa 1840–1870.