Jacobean Welsh Oak Great Chair c. 1620

In the early 17th century, Great chairs were used by the master of a house whilst other members of the family, friends and guests would almost invariably be seated on stools. Regardless of the status of your guest, prince or pauper, they would expect to be seated on a stool whilst the master would sit in a Great chair placed centrally at a table or raised on a dias. The tall backs, often with a high crowning shaped crest rail and extended ears, were intended to give additional stature, girth and gravitas to the sitter. Painted and with exuberant carving sometimes added in order to draw everyone’s gaze and attention to the sitter.

Great chairs were expensive high status items, treasured and kept within families for generations. Only a few wainscot chairs were made for children and they are rare. Rarer still is a child’s Great chair with the exaggerated high back and extended crowning crest rail. This chair may have been made as a smaller and unadorned version of the Master’s chair. Examples of early children’s wainscot chairs are well documented and most reside in museums and private collections. Children’s chairs had a seat height of around 13 inches and here the seat height is 13.5 inches.

Peg jointed throughout, the arm supports and front legs are square sectioned with quarter chamfered faces in the late 16th Century Elizabethan manner.

Solid oak original timbers with a single board forming the fielded back panel and another board forming the seat. The front edge of the seat with ogee detail and natural wear and deep patina from generations of use. The top of the back rail and base of the backboard and base of arms each also with ogee carved detailing.

Some evidence of early nailing around the back panel where the chair once had a padded back – probably tooled leather – long ago removed. There is a spliced in section of oak part way across the rear back leg at low level and visible only from the back (a professional repair). All four feet re-tipped in oak again a long time ago. Some old worm, long dead and not affecting structure or appearance.

The chair has the glorious colour which is characteristic of early Welsh oak and a naturally formed rich deep patina – particularly to the seat and arms.

This is a very heavy chair for its size and the oak is dense and well grained with strong medullary rays. There are some light ripples from the hand held adze evident on the rear of the back panel, legs, stretchers and beneath the seat board – something that is always good to see.

Of small and slim proportions, made for a child of standing and importance in c. 1620 this is an amazing survivor.
A beautiful early Great chair which will give focus, charm and character to any room.