CAISTOR WINDSOR NURSING ROCKING CHAIR C 1880

CAISTOR WINDSOR NURSING ROCKING CHAIR C 1880

An unusual, interesting and totally original nursing rocking chair, from the Caistor (Lincolnshire) tradition, as evidenced by the multiple turning on the centre ‘H’ stretcher, unique to this tradition. (See Dr Bernard Cotton: ‘The English Regional Chair’ - Antique Collectors’ Club).  William Shirley ran a chair making workshop in this small Lincolnshire village between 1846 and 1890, in which various makers worked under their own name, notably John Shadford, to whom the design of the definitive ‘Caistor’ chair is attributed, being very similar in form to this chair, low seated, low arm bow and on rockers, but having an arrangement of turned back uprights with two rows of turned spindles in the back.  This chair is interesting in having an unusual shaping to the sides of the seat (see photos).  Alder was commonly used by the Caistor makers alongside ash and elm, but unusually this whole chair is made in alder (often referred to as Scots mahogany, due to the fleck in the grain).

Evidence of historic worm and slight staining to top comb.  Original rockers are very worn (see photos), so, although the chair rocks, the travel of the movement is limited!

width at top comb : 60 cms (23.5”)

width at armbow : 55 cms (21.5”)

height : 100 cms (39.5”)

depth (from back to front of rockers) : 75 cms (29.5”)

seat height: 39 cms (15.25”)                                                                                                       

between front arm supports: 38 cms   (15”)                                                                                       

seat depth (from bottom of splat to front edge of seat) 41cms (16”)