Understated, robust, affordable and versatile what's not to like about the iconic country chairs named after a famous royal town? But if you've always assumed Windsors were christened after the place where they were made, think again their association is rather less straightforward. Legend has it that George II sought shelter in a cottage in a storm and was offered a simple wooden seat. He was so impressed by it that he had a copy made and called it a Windsor chair. Sadly, however, this colourful tale is unlikely to be true, and Windsor was actually the hub where many of these chairs were sold, rather than the place they were created.
What defines a Windsor chair? Styles vary according to when and where they were made, but they always have a distinctive method of construction. Unlike many chairs, which have legs and uprights for the back support formed from a single, solid piece of wood, the components of a Windsor are all made separately. Imagine a four-legged stool with a back; sticks of turned wood are fitted into drilled holes in a solid wood seat to form the back support, and legs are similarly slotted, wedged and glued into holes underneath.
This method evolved because in the early days, various artisans were involved in the chairs' creation. Itinerant craftsmen, or 'bodgers', working in the woods were responsible for turning the legs, back sticks and stretchers on pole lathes, while seats and back splats were made by benchmen in small workshops. Finally, a framer would fit it all together and finish the piece.
Bu hikaye Homes & Antiques dergisinin May 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Homes & Antiques dergisinin May 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Animal magic
Brought to life in myriad ways, whether printed, woven or embroidered, animals and birds have always been popular motifs in textile design, says Celia Rufey
Bright, bold and BRILLIANT
Small homes don't need to compromise on character. In Nick Kenny's two-up, two-down terrace, natural light, upcycled pieces and colourful accents make a big impact
HEIRLOOMS OF THE FUTURE - FLORA JAMIESON
The stained glass artist talks to Dominique Corlett about the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement and capturing the English countryside at its best
Armillary sphere
The roots of the armillary sphere go back centuries but the design has retained its appeal, and sculptor David Harber creates some of today's most spectacular examples, says Jenny Oldaker
Six of the best HERITAGE RAILWAYS
Plying an 84-mile round trip route through the Scottish Highlands (current licensing woes willing), the Jacobite Steam Train starts at Fort William and skirts the tallest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, and spectacular beaches on its way to Mallaig.
TRAVEL
48 hours in Stockholm and the best heritage railways.
A PERSONAL PASSION
For opera lovers, Glyndebourne Festival is the highlight of the summer, beloved for its magical setting as well as the calibre of its productions. Celia Rufey steps behind the scenes as it celebrates its 90th birthday
48 hours in LEWES
As Glyndebourne Festival celebrates its 90th anniversary, there's no better time for a weekend away in the neighbouring town of Lewes in East Sussex says Sarah Riches
WE HEART ART
Visiting national art galleries and their acclaimed masterpieces is one thing, but the real satisfaction of being an art lover lies in building a collection of your own, says Caroline Wheater
The mystery COLLECTOR
One of the joys of collecting antiques is that pieces often come to us with stories attached. The story of Murray Pollinger, who built up an important collection of Samuel Alcock porcelain, is like the stuff of fiction. Fittingly so, as Willa Latham discovered...