Spindle Back Chairs Photos

Some early American chairs had simple designs where a row of thin spindles formed the backrest on simple chairs. Windsor chairs are spindle back but have their own page. This design is also called banister or comb back.

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Rocking chair with headrest & painted decoration at Thomas Griswold House. Guilford, CT.Carver chair with rush seat at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Banister-back chair with 19th C painting at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Stenciled side chair at Dr. Hezekiah Chaffee House. Windsor, CT.
Rocking chair with headrest & painted decoration at Thomas Griswold House. Guilford, CT.Carver chair with rush seat (17thC) at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Banister-back chair (c1720-30) with 19th C painting at Henry Whitfield State Museum. Guilford, CT.Stenciled side chair at Dr. Hezekiah Chaffee House. Windsor, CT.
Fireplace & side chair with painted wood paneling at Phelps-Hathaway House. Suffield, CT.Side chair & foot warmer at Phelps-Hathaway House. Suffield, CT.Parlor of Buttolph-Williams House. Wethersfield, CT.Turned sidechair with caned seat at Old Stone House. Washington, DC.
Fireplace & side chair with painted wood paneling at Phelps-Hathaway House. Suffield, CT.Side chair & foot warmer at Phelps-Hathaway House. Suffield, CT.Parlor of Buttolph-Williams House. Wethersfield, CT.Turned sidechair with caned seat at Old Stone House. Washington, DC.
Painted side chair from New England or New York in California period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Chairs in back bedroom for those waiting at Lincoln's bedside at House Where Lincoln Died. Washington, DC.Chair beside parlor fireplace in Crowninshield-Bentley House of Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Yellow chair at Jabez Howland House. Plymouth, MA.
Painted side chair (1815-25) from New England or New York in California period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Chairs in back bedroom for those waiting at Lincoln's bedside at House Where Lincoln Died. Washington, DC.Chair beside parlor fireplace in Crowninshield-Bentley House of Peabody Essex Museum. Salem, MA.Yellow chair at Jabez Howland House. Plymouth, MA.
Parlor of John Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Spinet & chairs at John Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Drop-leaf table & chairs at John Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Dining room with painted floor cloth Morris-Jumel Mansion. New York, NY.
Parlor of John Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Spinet & chairs at John Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Drop-leaf table & chairs at John Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Dining room (1790-1810) with painted floor cloth Morris-Jumel Mansion. New York, NY.
Spinning wheel in Schenck House bedroom at Old Bethpage Village. Old Bethpage, NY.Vintage chairs & commode at Custom House Museum. Sag Harbor, NY.Dropfront desk, armchair & early American mirror at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.Fireplace & chairs in parlor above N.K. Whitney Store at Historic Kirtland Village. Kirtland, OH.
Spinning wheel in Schenck House bedroom at Old Bethpage Village. Old Bethpage, NY.Vintage chairs & commode at Custom House Museum. Sag Harbor, NY.Dropfront desk, armchair & early American mirror at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.Fireplace & chairs in parlor above N.K. Whitney Store at Historic Kirtland Village. Kirtland, OH.
Chair from Meade's Headquarters at Gettysburg NPS Museum. Gettysburg, PA.Pantry chairs, with cowhide seats restored, at Chambers House Museum. Beaumont, TX.Portrait of Sir Alexander Seton over table & side chairs at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.Elm sidechairs from Robert Burns' house in Dumfries at Writers' Museum. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Chair from Meade's Headquarters at Gettysburg NPS Museum. Gettysburg, PA.Pantry chairs, with cowhide seats restored, at Chambers House Museum. Beaumont, TX.Portrait of Sir Alexander Seton over table & side chairs at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.Elm sidechairs from Robert Burns' house in Dumfries at Writers' Museum. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Writing table & chair in painted chamber at Culross Palace at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Scottish oak table & chairs before fireplace with carved royal coat of arms of Charles II at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Parlor chair & writing desk both used by Robert Burns at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Alloway, Scotland.American chairs owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn: ladder back, Windsor arm, rod-back Windsor side chairs. Charlotttesville, VA.
Writing table & chair in painted chamber at Culross Palace at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.Scottish oak table & chairs (17thC) before fireplace with carved royal coat of arms of Charles II (c1660-85) at Provand's Lordship. Glasgow, Scotland.Parlor chair & writing desk both used by Robert Burns at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. Alloway, Scotland.American chairs (late 18thC) owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn: ladder back, Windsor arm, rod-back Windsor side chairs. Charlotttesville, VA.
Stencil chair at Craik-Patton House. Charleston, WV.Decorative desk chair at Museum of Western Art. Kerrville, TX.

Stencil chair at Craik-Patton House. Charleston, WV.Decorative desk chair at Museum of Western Art. Kerrville, TX.

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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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