What is a georgian wooden elbow chair?

A georgian wooden elbow chair is a seated furniture piece featuring armrests, produced during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in various formal and vernacular styles. These pieces range from urban mahogany parlour armchairs to country Windsor chairs constructed from elm, ash, and yew.

How do I identify a Windsor chair?

Windsor chairs are characterised by a solid wooden seat block into which the legs, back spindles, and arm supports are tenoned directly rather than fixed to a framed carcass. They often incorporate traditional woods like elm for the seat and ash or yew for the bentwood bows and spindles.

Were these chairs used at dining tables?

Many elbow chairs served as carvers positioned at the head and foot of a dining table, accompanied by matching side chairs. Others functioned as desk chairs, library seating, or fireside armchairs within domestic interiors.

How should I care for timber elbow chairs?

Maintain the timber by keeping chairs away from direct heat sources and sudden humidity changes that can cause wood to split or joints to loosen. Apply a microcrystalline wax periodically to nourish the surface polish without building up sticky residues.