Great Chairs Photos

Great Chairs were reserved for Lords of the Manor or other leaders between Renaissance & Victorian times. Great Chairs are wood with arms, vertical backs, no padding. An identifying feature is that the arms are further apart at the front than the back creating a trapezoid in the overhead view. Some other early wooden chairs are included.

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Ornate bishop's chair in Drummers' Room, Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.Renaissance high-backed chair carved with unicorns & heron swallowing eel in Catherine de Medici bedroom at Chaumont-Sur-Loire. France.Walnut armchair from France at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Nursing chair said to have belonged to Annabella Drummond, Countess of Mar who cared for infant King James VI of Scotland at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ornate bishop's chair (late 15th, early 16thC) in Drummers' Room, Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.Renaissance high-backed chair (1st quarter 16thC) carved with unicorns & heron swallowing eel in Catherine de Medici bedroom at Chaumont-Sur-Loire. France.Walnut armchair (caquetoire) (c1550) from France at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Nursing chair said to have belonged to Annabella Drummond, Countess of Mar who cared for infant King James VI of Scotland (c1566) at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Bailiff's Room with writing desk on table & great chair at Castle Fraser. Aberdeenshire, Scotland.Great chair beside round tiered table displaying silver & glass items in dining room at Kellie Castle. Pittenweem, Scotland.Edward Winslow family upholstered chair from England at Pilgrim Hall Museum. Plymouth, MA.Scottish oak great chair carved with crest of star & chicken at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Bailiff's Room (1580s) with writing desk on table & great chair (1600s) at Castle Fraser. Aberdeenshire, Scotland.Great chair (1619) beside round tiered table displaying silver & glass items in dining room at Kellie Castle. Pittenweem, Scotland.Edward Winslow family upholstered chair (c1620-50) from England at Pilgrim Hall Museum. Plymouth, MA.Scottish oak great chair (1629) carved with crest of star & chicken at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Great chair from Hingham, MA at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Aberdeenshire Burgher's oak marriage chair at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.White oak Great Chair from Essex County?, MA at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Scottish carved oak great chair with GB initials at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Great chair (c1635-85) from Hingham, MA at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Aberdeenshire Burgher's oak marriage chair (1635) at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.White oak Great Chair (1640-85) from Essex County?, MA at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Scottish carved oak great chair (1646) with GB initials at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Wainscot oak chair from Massachusetts at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Panel back armchair from Quebec City area at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Oak armchair with coat of arms & cradle from Linlithgow Palace both Scottish made at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Oak armchair with coat of arms of Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie Scottish made at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Wainscot oak chair (1650-1700) from Massachusetts at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Panel back armchair (c1675-1725) from Quebec City area at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Oak armchair with coat of arms (1652) & cradle (17thC) from Linlithgow Palace both Scottish made at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Oak armchair with coat of arms of Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie (1665) Scottish made at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Turned chair from Branford or Wethersfield, CT & oak chair prob. from Hartford owned by Governor John Winthrop, Jr. at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Oak great chair by Thomas Dennis of Ipswich, MA, at Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Scottish carved oak great chair at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Scottish oak great chair carved IR EM at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Turned chair (c1650) from Branford or Wethersfield, CT & oak chair (1660) prob. from Hartford owned by Governor John Winthrop, Jr. at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Oak great chair (1670-90) by Thomas Dennis of Ipswich, MA, at Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Scottish carved oak great chair (1675) at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Scottish oak great chair (1688) carved IR EM at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Display of blades over great armchair in Armory at Culzean Castle. Maybole, Scotland.Oak great chair at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Gateleg table & carved chairs in painted chamber at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.Collection of Scottish oak chairs at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Display of blades over great armchair (1692) in Armory at Culzean Castle. Maybole, Scotland.Oak great chair (17thC) at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Gateleg table & carved chairs (17thC) in painted chamber at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.Collection of Scottish oak chairs (17thC) at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Scottish oak great chair before fireplace with iron grate at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Collection of Scottish oak chairs at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Death of Leonardo da Vinci painting by François-Guillaume Ménageot over Henri II style table & Renaissance chairs in King's bedchamber in Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.Walnut gossip chair from France in Queen's chamber at Blois Chateau. Blois, France.
Scottish oak great chair (17thC) before fireplace with iron grate at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Collection of Scottish oak chairs (17thC) at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Death of Leonardo da Vinci painting (1781) by François-Guillaume Ménageot over Henri II style table & Renaissance chairs in King's bedchamber in Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.Walnut gossip chair (19thC) from France in Queen's chamber at Blois Chateau. Blois, France.
Great chair, which would have been reserved for master of house, with linen fold carving on back at Cartier Manor House Museum. St Malo, France.Carved high back armchair which would have been reserved for use by Master of house in Common Room at Jacques Cartier Manor House Museum. St Malo, France.Wooden chairs with richly decorated high backs in Council Chamber in Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.Ornately carved throne chair with crest of France in Great Hall at Château de Clos Lucé. Amboise, France.
Great chair, which would have been reserved for master of house, with linen fold carving on back at Cartier Manor House Museum. St Malo, France.Carved high back armchair which would have been reserved for use by Master of house in Common Room at Jacques Cartier Manor House Museum. St Malo, France.Wooden chairs with richly decorated high backs in Council Chamber in Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.Ornately carved throne chair with crest of France in Great Hall at Château de Clos Lucé. Amboise, France.
Great chair with carved back in keep at Cahir Castle. Cahir, Ireland.Chest & great chairs in banqueting hall at Cahir Castle. Cahir, Ireland.Great chair at the high table in Great Hall at Bunratty Castle. County Clare, Ireland.Ceremonial carved wooden chair in Main Guard at Bunratty Castle. County Clare, Ireland.
Great chair with carved back in keep at Cahir Castle. Cahir, Ireland.Chest & great chairs in banqueting hall at Cahir Castle. Cahir, Ireland.Great chair at the high table in Great Hall at Bunratty Castle. County Clare, Ireland.Ceremonial carved wooden chair in Main Guard at Bunratty Castle. County Clare, Ireland.
Great chair with carved back at John Balch Museum House. Beverly, MA.Replica of coronation chair & stone of scone made for motion picture at Scone Palace. Perth, Scotland.Oak armchair in birth chamber of King James VI & I in royal apartments at Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh, Scotland.Armchair & adjustable candle stick in kitchen at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Great chair with carved back at John Balch Museum House. Beverly, MA.Replica of coronation chair & stone of scone made for motion picture at Scone Palace. Perth, Scotland.Oak armchair in birth chamber of King James VI & I in royal apartments at Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh, Scotland.Armchair & adjustable candle stick in kitchen at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Great chair in High Hall at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Chest of drawers & great chair in Lairds room at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Great chair in Lairds room at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Scottish oak bedstead, chest & armchair at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Great chair in High Hall at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Chest of drawers & great chair in Lairds room at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Great chair in Lairds room at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Scottish oak bedstead, chest & armchair at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.
Living area with fireplace & oak chair at Robert Burns Cottage. Alloway, Scotland.Chairs of Burn's parents with Agnes's nursing chair & William's armchair at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Alloway, Scotland.Royal oak chair from palace at Dunfermline Carnegie Library Museum. Dunfermline, Scotland.Renaissance Henry II armchair in Diane de Poitiers' bedroom at Chenonceau Chateau. Chenonceau, France.
Living area with fireplace & oak chair at Robert Burns Cottage. Alloway, Scotland.Chairs of Burn's parents with Agnes's nursing chair & William's armchair (both late 18thC) at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Alloway, Scotland.Royal oak chair (c1700) from palace at Dunfermline Carnegie Library Museum. Dunfermline, Scotland.Renaissance Henry II armchair in Diane de Poitiers' bedroom at Chenonceau Chateau. Chenonceau, France.
Fireplace & side chair in Earl's private apartments at Bunratty Castle. County Clare, Ireland.Straight back Ile d'Orleans chair & Petrin dough table in Old French House. Vincennes, IN.Colonial-style chair in John Ward House of Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Low plain chair in Queen's bedchamber at Falkland Palace. Falkland, Scotland.
Fireplace & side chair in Earl's private apartments at Bunratty Castle. County Clare, Ireland.Straight back Ile d'Orleans chair & Petrin dough table in Old French House. Vincennes, IN.Colonial-style chair in John Ward House of Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Low plain chair in Queen's bedchamber at Falkland Palace. Falkland, Scotland.
Antique table & chairs at Rothe House. Kilkenny, Ireland.Caned chair & chest of drawers in North building at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Walnut & cane sidechair at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Carved oak chairs with cane seats by G. Gerald Evans of Philadelphia in New Jersey period English Chamber at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Antique table & chairs at Rothe House. Kilkenny, Ireland.Caned chair & chest of drawers in North building at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Walnut & cane sidechair (early 17thC) at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Carved oak chairs with cane seats (1910-11) by G. Gerald Evans of Philadelphia in New Jersey period English Chamber at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.

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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
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