MID 19TH CENTURY

Made for the blackhouses of the North Eastern Highland regions, these handmade chairs are constructed from the cleft mirrored halves of a naturally crook-shaped branch to form the seat and back uprights; these are joined by branches and a thin panel in the seat to form the back and seat, over which a fleece or other fabric could be used for comfort. The legs are made from cleft ash and skilfully connected with natural branch stretchers to create greater strength. These chairs were made naturally low to be near the floor-level peat fire and to sit below the smoke layer which accumulated in the upper part of black house. This regional chair design epitomises the skilful adaptation which the Highland Scots made to furniture production in areas where wood was scarce and only simple tools available. A similar chair is illustrared in Victor Chinnery, Iak Furniture The British Tradition, Woodbridge 1979, page 81, fig 2.56