WINDSOR CHAIRS OF THIS DISTINCTIVE DESIGN WHERE MADE BY THE FIRM OF GILLOWS IN LANCASTER, WHO INCLUDED DRAWINGS OF SUCH CHAIRS IN THEIR ESTIMATE SKETCH BOOKS OF 1798 AND 1806 WHICH DESCRIBED THEM RESPECTIVELY AS MADE IN ELM AND CHERRY TREE OR IN ASH. THE 1806 ESTIMATE NOTES THAT THE CHAIRS CAN BE GREEN AND COST 6 SHILLINGS 9½D TO MAKE. THIS UNUSUAL DESIGN OF WINDSOR CHAIR IS CHARACTERISED IN HAVING A SHALLOW, BENT CRINOLINE STRETCHER JOINING THE FRONT LEGS WITH TWO LONG SUPPORTS TO THE REAR LEGS. FRONT UNDERARM SUPPORTS ARE SIMILARLY SHALLOW IN THEIR CURVATURE AND IN COMMON WITH THE CURVED STRETCHER ARE HAND SHAPED RATHER THEN STEAMED AND BENT. THE TOP BOW IS ACUTELY BENT AND THE BACK SPINDLES FAN OUTWARDS. THE FRONT LEGS HAVE A DISTINCTIVE LOWER PEAR SHAPED TURNING AND THE LEGS ARE MORTICED THROUGH THE SEAT.

THERE IS A SET OF FOUR CHAIRS OF THIS DESIGN, THOUGH NOT ROCKING, AT THE JUDGES' LODGINGS IN LANCASTER. A FURTHER EXAMPLE AT TEMPLE NEWSAM HOUSE IN LEEDS PRESERVES SOME BLUE/GREEN PAINT. THE BLUE PAINT ON THIS PARTICULAR CHAIR CANNOT BE THE ORIGINAL SINCE THERE IS A GREEN SHOWING THROUGH IN PLACES, THOUGH IT IS STILL AN EARLY COAT OF PAINT.

A GROUP OF FOUR SUCH CHAIRS, THOUGH WITH ONLY TRACES OF ORIGINAL PAINT, WERE SOLD IN THESE ROOM ON 23 FEBRUARY, 2000, LOT 396.