What is a regional vernacular chair?

These are traditional domestic seats made by local country craftsmen using native timbers rather than following metropolitan fashions. They reflect the specific woodworking traditions and available woods of areas like the Thames Valley, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

How do I identify a Windsor chair?

A Windsor chair is built around a thick solid wooden seat into which the legs and back spindles are directly fitted. Look for a sculpted saddle seat and bentwood bows that characterise regional variations from different British counties.

Where were lambing chairs used?

Lambing chairs were traditionally used beside farmhouse hearths and in rural nurseries to protect occupants from cold drafts. Their high wing-backed wooden frames and enclosed sides trapped heat around the person sitting in them.

How do I care for antique elm and ash?

Keep these wooden chairs away from direct heat sources and sudden temperature shifts to prevent the native timbers from splitting. Feed the dry wood occasionally with a traditional wax to maintain the surface finish without sealing the grain.