A wainscot chair is a type of chair which was common in early 17th-century England and colonial America.[1][2] Usually made of oak, the term can be used in a general way for a simple heavy chair, or more specifically for a particular style of heavy panel-backed chair as detailed later.[1] The name derives from the fine grade of oak which was used at the time for wainscot panelling.[1]

A wainscot chair, English, c. 1600

Details

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When used in a specific sense, there are many characteristics that are implied.[1] These include:

  • the front legs having been shaped on a lathe
  • the back legs being square-sectioned
  • having arm supports
  • lacking an upholstered seat
  • a panel back, sometimes rather plain but often carved with a relatively complex design

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Wainscot chair". Encyclopædia Britannica. 13 October 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Brooklyn Museum". www.brooklynmuseum.org.