EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Chairs of this design are included in the Norwich Chair Makers Book of Prices of 1801, pp 1 and 2 under the heading, "A Square Back Kitchen Chair", which was offered with a dished or 'hollow' seat, and with an accompanying comprehensive 'table of extras', elements of which could be ordered by the customer. These extras included, for example, the payment to the journeyman maker of the sum of 2 pence to make "A top, hollow in front, not exceeding the inch in hollow", and for the cost of 2 pence to make "double pitch back feet". The numerous design possibilities offered by the Book of Prices and the various tables of extras account for the immense variety found in the East Anglian group of chairs, which also include as standard woods in which chairs were offered, Elm, Ash, Beech or Walnut tree. The evidence of surviving East Anglian chairs is that Elm was the most preferred wood. However, the table of extras offered Cherry as a further wood, listing, "If these chairs are made of cherry-tree, charge extra from the other common woods, in each shilling 1 1/2 pence," a premium of 12 1/2 This extra cost points to the rarity of this wood and cherry wood chairs in this tradition are rare, as is the use of Mahogany as a seating wood ( which is not listed in the extras)
Dr. B D Cotton, January 2004