This chair is an interesting interpretation of a Thames Valley Windsor armchair from the mid 18th century, but with design elements which indicate that it was made in the West country. These include a more shallow curve to the cabriole leg, than was the convention in the London or Thames Valley chairs. (See Dr B. Cotton, The English Regional Chair, Woodbridge 1990, page 45 fig TV14). The seat is swept back at the corners in an unusual way, allowing the shape of the cabriole leg to be clearly seen. The low back is composed of a fine cleft combrail which is a distinctive and attractive feature of this chair, and also has an unusually shaped top to the splat which is an adaptation to the more usual vasiform shape of the Thames Valley splat. The spindles are hand shaped, in the manner of many West Country Windsors, rather than turned.
Dr. B. Cotton January 2003