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Lot Essay
Table settles and table chairs are an ingenious example of space-saving furniture.
Known in the 17th century, they continued to be made in the 18th and 19th centuries in certain parts of Britain. They were a relatively common item in the Irish vernacular tradition, where metamorphic furniture, including settle beds, was an important way of conserving space. Table-settles were made, more rarely, in the West Country, where they were usually open in the base, and also in Wales, although here they were exceptions where virtually every household had a fireside settle or skew, with a fixed back and a lidded base.
This example has the characteristic enclosed lidded base and chamfered under-arm supports which are found in many of the Welsh settles. The surface has remains of its original varnish coat.
Dr. B.D.Cotton
Known in the 17th century, they continued to be made in the 18th and 19th centuries in certain parts of Britain. They were a relatively common item in the Irish vernacular tradition, where metamorphic furniture, including settle beds, was an important way of conserving space. Table-settles were made, more rarely, in the West Country, where they were usually open in the base, and also in Wales, although here they were exceptions where virtually every household had a fireside settle or skew, with a fixed back and a lidded base.
This example has the characteristic enclosed lidded base and chamfered under-arm supports which are found in many of the Welsh settles. The surface has remains of its original varnish coat.
Dr. B.D.Cotton