How heavy should an oak chair be?

Dense timber makes these pieces difficult to lift with one hand. The early panelled examples are particularly substantial because joiners used thick stock to ensure rigidity. Later provincial spindle-back designs are lighter. Woodturners reduced the mass, so they aren't as cumbersome to move around.

I have an old set of dining chairs where the seat boards are made from a different type of timber to the main frames, is that normal for country pieces?

Joiners routinely mixed timbers based on what they had in the workshop. Elm was a popular choice for seat boards because its interlocking grain resists splitting better than oak. Ash also turns up frequently in secondary areas. The makers stained the whole piece dark, so the different woods blended together under a unified finish.

What does quarter sawn mean?

It refers to cutting the log radially from the centre out to the bark. This method exposes the pale streaks in the grain known as medullary rays. It stops the boards warping as they dry.

The wooden bars connecting the legs at the bottom are worn right down in the middle compared to the edges, what causes that specific type of wear?

Those low horizontal bars are called stretchers. They hold the legs rigid and stop the frame spreading under load. Generations of sitters hooking their heels over the front stretcher naturally wore away the sharp top edges. It's a common sign of heavy domestic use in taverns and farmhouses.

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Antique Oak Chairs

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Stoutly constructed from heavy timber with jointed frames and panelled or slatted backs, antique oak chairs provided robust seating in halls, taverns and farmhouses across the country.