The Windsor style

18th Century

History and Illustrations

During the Chippendale era, Windsor furniture carried on the turner's tradition. Its name seems to be derived from an important English market town, where such furniture was sold. Produced in quantity in England beginning in the 17th century, these antique windsor chairs are characterized by stick legs and spindles driven into a plank seat. Hickory and ash (tough, springy, and easily shaped) were ideal woods for the construction, which required no screws or nails.

Because antique Windsor chairs were being made in large numbers in Philadelphia by the mid 18th century, they were occasionally called "Philadelphia" chairs. The first ones made in Philadelphia had low backs; they were followed by fan backs, sack backs, and bow backs. A New England version was fashioned with a continuous hoop and arm.

Fan-back                      Bow-back                   Hoop-back

During the second half of the 18th century, Windsors were being made in quantity in most major American cities, and Connecticut became an important manufacturing center. Because these chairs and settees were constructed with a number of types of wood, they were painted in such colors as red, black, blue, yellow, rose, or gray. Some pieces had floral decorations to conceal the differences in the materials. Other forms included cradles, high chairs, stools, and writing armchairs.

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