A Pair of Early Lancashire Ladder Back Armchiars , c.1800

A very good pair of early Lancashire ladder-back armchairs with the original split cane seats - dating from around 1800.

Exceptional colour, wear and beautifully executed old repairs.

The chairs have tall backs with gently shaped rails, curved arms supported by turned uprights and unusually decorative front stretchers.

What makes this pair particularly special is the extraordinary surface, developed through generations of use. The rich, dark timber has worn to warm shades of honey and tobacco, particularly along the arms and stretchers, where the natural grain is beautifully exposed.

The old repairs are integral to the beauty and authenticity of these chairs - evidence of the care and ingenuity of how they have been maintained over their long lives. The surviving woven seats, with their wonderfully worn leather-covered front rails, add further character.

Both are remarkably solid, sturdy and entirely suitable for everyday use. An exceptional pair of vernacular country chairs, valued as much for their remarkable surfaces and history as for their craftsmanship.

I love everything about these chairs, especially the signs of how well they have been cared for.