why are the seats so hard?

The makers intended them to be slightly uncomfortable. These chairs sat in entrance halls for visiting tradesmen, footmen, and messengers waiting for an answer. Upholstery would have been ruined by wet coats and muddy breeches. A solid wooden seat was practical. It wiped down easily and kept visitors alert.

We bought a heavy wooden chair with a painted crest on the back at an auction, but how do we know whose family crest it is?

You need to consult a heraldry reference like Fairbairn's Book of Crests. It lists crests by family name and describes the visual elements, such as a lion rampant or a severed boar head. Keep in mind that many families shared similar crests, and some upwardly mobile Victorians simply copied designs they liked. A local archivist or heraldic society can usually help narrow down the region.

Yes, providing the joints aren't loose. Antique hall chairs were built to take the weight of heavy men in winter clothing. Just check that the legs don't wobble before putting them to daily use.

I was wondering if these chairs were ever used in dining rooms back in the day, or were they strictly kept by the front door all the time?

They lived strictly in the entrance passages or the great hall. Dining chairs require a different pitch to the back and a much more forgiving seat for long meals. If you find one in a dining room today, it is because modern owners like the look of the carved backs against a wall. The original household staff would never have mixed hall furniture with the formal dining sets.

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Gothic Hall Chairs

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Antique hall chairs are stiff, upright wooden seats designed to line the entrance passages of grand houses, offering a brief resting place for messengers and guests without encouraging them to linger.