Windsor Chairs Photos

Windsor Chairs are wood with a curved spindle back & usually spindle arms. Their major defining feature & comfort advance is that the seat is contoured to the human bottom, with a ridge between the sitter's legs, not flat. Windsor chairs originated in Windsor, CT. Windsor like knock-offs are included at the bottom of the page. Windsor features were also used in writing chairs, rocking chairs & benches.

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Demo of Windsor-chair contouring for comfort at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Windsor chair possibly from Connecticut once owned by Daniel Butler at Butler-McCook House Museum. Hartford, CT.Windsor-style chair used by Nathan Hale when he taught school now in Judgment Room at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Detail of Nathan Hale's chair at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.
Demo of Windsor-chair contouring for comfort (rt) at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Windsor chair (1785-1800) possibly from Connecticut once owned by Daniel Butler at Butler-McCook House Museum. Hartford, CT.Windsor-style chair used by Nathan Hale when he taught school now in Judgment Room at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Detail of Nathan Hale's chair at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.
Early American contoured side char at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Armchair & wing chair at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Windsor-style chair at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Tall clock by Daniel Burnap, chair , & Portrait of Mrs. Eldredge by John Brewster, Jr. at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.
Early American contoured side char at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Armchair & wing chair at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Windsor-style chair at Nathan Hale Homestead Museum. Coventry, CT.Tall clock (1780-1800) by Daniel Burnap, chair (c1800), & Portrait of Mrs. Eldredge (1795) by John Brewster, Jr. at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.
Chairs from Connecticut at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Windsor chair at Noah Webster House. West Hartford, CT.Chest with drawers with Windsor chair& tin lantern at Strong House. Windsor, CT.Windsor chair at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.
Chairs (c1790s) from Connecticut at Connecticut Historical Society. Hartford, CT.Windsor chair at Noah Webster House. West Hartford, CT.Chest with drawers with Windsor chair& tin lantern at Strong House. Windsor, CT.Windsor chair at Oliver Ellsworth Homestead Museum. Windsor, CT.
Drop front desk with library case beside Windsor chair at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.Windsor chair at Judson House. Stratford, CT.South Carolina period bedchamber with dressing table & comb-back Windsor armchair from Hopsewee Plantation, SC at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Mahogany desk from New England or New York & Windsor chair from PA or Southern U.S. in West Virginia period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Drop front desk with library case beside Windsor chair at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.Windsor chair at Judson House. Stratford, CT.South Carolina period bedchamber (1810-20) with dressing table & comb-back Windsor armchair from Hopsewee Plantation, SC (mid 19thC) at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Mahogany desk (1800-15) from New England or New York & Windsor chair (1780-1810) from PA or Southern U.S. in West Virginia period parlor (early 19thC) at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Upstairs bedroom with arm chair in Oldest Frame House of Mission House Museum. Honolulu, HI.Fan-backed Windsor Chair from Philadelphia, PA at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Speaker's chair & clerk's desk in first floor House of Representatives chamber Indiana Territory Capitol. Vincennes, IN.Chair & chest at Witch House. Salem, MA.
Upstairs bedroom with arm chair in Oldest Frame House of Mission House Museum. Honolulu, HI.Fan-backed Windsor Chair (1760-70) from Philadelphia, PA at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Speaker's chair & clerk's desk in first floor House of Representatives chamber Indiana Territory Capitol. Vincennes, IN.Chair & chest at Witch House. Salem, MA.
Table & chair at John Quincy Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Tall clock & chairs at John Quincy Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Windsor chair at John Cabot House. Beverly, MA.Parlor with Windsor chair & lap desk on table at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.
Table & chair at John Quincy Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Tall clock & chairs at John Quincy Adams birthplace. Quincy, MA.Windsor chair at John Cabot House. Beverly, MA.Parlor with Windsor chair & lap desk on table at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.
Portrait of Elbridge Gerry, drop-front desk, & Windsor chair at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Windsor chair in kitchen at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Colonial revival Windsor chair in Aspet dining room at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.Colonial revival Windsor chair in Aspet North parlor at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.
Portrait of Elbridge Gerry, drop-front desk, & Windsor chair at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Windsor chair in kitchen at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Colonial revival Windsor chair in Aspet dining room at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.Colonial revival Windsor chair in Aspet North parlor at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.
Windsor chair prob. from CT in Aspet North parlor at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.American continuous bow Windsor armchair in style of New York City at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.Windsor-style captain's chair & foot stool at Custom House Museum. Sag Harbor, NY.High-chair, spinning wheel & armchair at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.
Windsor chair (early 19thC) prob. from CT in Aspet North parlor at Saint-Gaudens NHS. Cornish, NH.American continuous bow Windsor armchair (c1790) in style of New York City at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.Windsor-style captain's chair & foot stool at Custom House Museum. Sag Harbor, NY.High-chair, spinning wheel & armchair at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.
Contoured arm chair at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.Corner cabinet & chairs in Herrick House at Hale Farm. Cleveland, OH.Contoured armchair in Jonathan Goldsmith House at Hale Farm. Cleveland, OH.Arrangement of Windsor chairs in Touro Synagogue. Newport, RI.
Contoured arm chair at Conference House. Staten Island, NY.Corner cabinet & chairs in Herrick House at Hale Farm. Cleveland, OH.Contoured armchair in Jonathan Goldsmith House at Hale Farm. Cleveland, OH.Arrangement of Windsor chairs in Touro Synagogue. Newport, RI.
Glazed porch with collection of early Windsor chairs & benches at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Windsor Armchair on American hooked rug at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Mahogany side table from Thomas White, a friend of Burns, behind Windsor chair at Robert Burns House. Dumfries, Scotland.Windsor chair in High Hall at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.
Glazed porch with collection of early Windsor chairs & benches at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Windsor Armchair (1780-90) on American hooked rug (late19th-early 20thC) at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Mahogany side table (late 18thC) from Thomas White, a friend of Burns, behind Windsor chair at Robert Burns House. Dumfries, Scotland.Windsor chair in High Hall at Culross Palace. Culross, Scotland.
Windsor chair in brick house at Ulster American Folk Park. Omagh, Northern Ireland.Arm chair by unknown, rocking chair by Henry F. Dewey & Windsor chair prob. by Amasa Elwell all from Bennington, VT at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.Parlor at Medad Stone Tavern Museum. Guilford, CT.Armchair with high back in Garrison house at Woodman Museum. Dover, NH.
Windsor chair in brick house at Ulster American Folk Park. Omagh, Northern Ireland.Arm chair (1815-35) by unknown, rocking chair (1838) by Henry F. Dewey & Windsor chair (c1800) prob. by Amasa Elwell all from Bennington, VT at Bennington Museum. Bennington, VT.Parlor at Medad Stone Tavern Museum. Guilford, CT.Armchair with high back in Garrison house at Woodman Museum. Dover, NH.
Doll & chair at McAllister House Museum. Colorado Springs, CO.Rocking chair at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Commode chair at Thomas Halsey Homestead. South Hampton, NY.Rocking chair, chests, tables & vessels at Ash Lawn-Highland. Charlotttesville, VA.
Doll & chair at McAllister House Museum. Colorado Springs, CO.Rocking chair at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Commode chair at Thomas Halsey Homestead. South Hampton, NY.Rocking chair, chests, tables & vessels at Ash Lawn-Highland. Charlotttesville, VA.
Dining room caned armchair at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Tavern arm chair attrib. John Brem & round table at Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. New Braunfels, TX.Wooden spindle back chair in the servants' area at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.Wooden spindle chair & cradle in West Wainscot Bedchamber at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.
Dining room caned armchair at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Tavern arm chair (c1860) attrib. John Brem & round table at Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. New Braunfels, TX.Wooden spindle back chair in the servants' area at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.Wooden spindle chair & cradle in West Wainscot Bedchamber at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.
Drop front desk owned by King George VI with round armchair in king's bedroom at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.American chairs owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn: ladder back, Windsor arm, rod-back Windsor side chairs. Charlotttesville, VA.Windsor chair from Quebec at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Drop front desk owned by King George VI with round armchair in king's bedroom at Glamis Castle. Angus, Scotland.American chairs (late 18thC) owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn: ladder back, Windsor arm, rod-back Windsor side chairs. Charlotttesville, VA.Windsor chair (c1800-10) from Quebec at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
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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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