Early 17th Century Elm and Oak Welsh Wainscot Chair c. 1630

A very good and early elm and oak wainscot chair made approximately 400 years ago with double seat boards with notched edges. Thickly cut slabs of solid elm form the back legs and frame the carved oak back panel, elm has also been used for the arms and supports and front legs. An exuberant, confident and skilled hand has carved the back panel in the form of stylised tulip foliage and centred with a large daisy open flowerhead.

Fantastic colour and patina developed from centuries of use and wear.

The seat rails, legs and stretchers in walnut with carved running arcades to the front rail and beautiful accentuated channel carved detailing to the back.

The frame of the chair with some losses to the right arm where it meets the supports and some marks, dents and other old and small losses and repairs consistent with age and use. These now aged, well blended and smoothed by the centuries.

The fielded back panel has a crack from expansion and contraction as shown on our photographs and this is likely to have happened in the early years of its life as oak can takes five decades to dry fully and will not move further.

A beautiful chair and probably used by the same person for a long period – the wear is so consistent and to the left arm – perhaps a left handed gentleman who always rested his cup of tea or glass of beer here.

Beautifully grained elm and the colour of the oak combined with the simple shaping and carved panel indicates a provincial chair probably made in Wales in around 1630.

Completely solid, very heavy, very usable and a really early and beautiful chair.