A History of Windsor Seats

[@jgoogleheim8880]

Hey Mike. Thanks for your sharing the Windsor chair knowledge. Your sackback class was one of the highlights of my life. The chair I built in your class is as solid as it was when I built it in 1998 and it should easily last another 100 years. Hope you are well.

[@stuarttaylor4990]

Just subbed, loved the history of the Windsor. Many thanks.

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

Thank you.

[@rustyshimstock8653]

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and collection. Very valuable and appreciated.

[@steveshapland8846]

Mike, I'm still enjoying the dack bCk I made in your class 20 years ago.

[@jdm5556]

Love these History of the Windsor videos. Especially the comments on the functionality of he various forms of these components.

[@909sickle]

I wish this was longer - I enjoy these historical details. Thanks

[@irenahadzi-dordevic1385]

Hello! I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful lectures. I love researching about furniture history and often times it is difficult to find in depth information online. This whole series is wonderful and appreciated!

[@michaelborgeest1681]

Another great video. Hopefully the youtube audience will soon discover the extent and quality of the information offered here by Mike Dunbar. Mike has as much if not more historical information regarding Windsor chairs than even all the extensive technical chair building expertise. Hoping we see more and more videos from Mike.

[@wortheffort]

Great Content

[@909sickle]

Hey, I just watched your video! Thanks for turning me onto this channel in the first place

[@DianaSandersCinamon]

Great video! Thank you

[@JohnInWaterdown]

Thank you for this history and evolution of the Windsor seat.

[@ryanburbridge]

Thank you!!! I have a chair and i have no idea where i got it. But every one that knows our family knows that’s “dad’s chair” lol. It just works. Is comfortable and sturdy. I have started trying to find information about it and found your channel. Awesome

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

Send me a picture and I will take a look. I should be able to give you some information.

[@ryanburbridge]

The Windsor Institute what a nice gesture! I know form a little bit of research it is nothing special. Definitely a factory made chair. But as time goes on i appreciate quality made items more and more. I intend to purchase a hand made chair... (with 5 kids may need a set lol) to pass along to each of them. They have all grown up with the one i have and love to give me a hard time about it. I will take some good pictures of it and may even post a video. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I wanted to thank you personally for keeping such an American tradition alive and well. I can only imagine the inspiration you have given others over the years. Hope all is well.

[@ellissykes7133]

So useful thank you!

[@Moosechaser100]

Wonderful information Mike. Great to see and hear how you explain the evolution of the chairs.

[@WoodworkingPro]

Wonderful tutorial on Windsors and their shapes I had no idea there was such a great variety of chairs and seats, thank you very much.

[@ronmccarty7537]

Your knowledge and presentation is fantastic! Thank you!

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

Thanks for your kind words, Ron.

[@twcmaker]

So far.. everything 👏👏👏. But the headlights. You just know that those indicators won't be seen with the headlight pointing at you at night.

[@stevebella4221]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@stanshuford1882]

Thanks for the seat tutorial. The video reminded me of the time I spent in your shop building a sackback - a great experience.

[@russellmunn1298]

How good is this historical account of your beautiful American Windsors. You have made a truly worthy contribution to the knowledge of making and provenance for all.

[@stacieskelley]

Thank you so much; you're really good educator. I have two chairs but I picked off a neighbor's garbage pile 30 years ago. Didn't look like much and they were painted black so I had them professionally stripped to then be stained. I'm sure at this point you're saying "oh no!" I was 30 and figured so it'll be easy to find other ones thinking they had been mass-produced and maybe they were but I have not found another that is exactly the same even with the breadth of the internet. I'm eternally hopeful and I continue with my hunt. They are a fan back brace back shield seat with 7+2 number of spindles. H spreader. The left and right spindle posts have a carved cap on the first turning. There are no manufacturers marks. Is it possible it's a Hitchcock chair but since I stripped it the word Hitchcock would no longer be on there but it wasn't there when I found them. Thoughts?

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

Hard to be sure without seeing the chairs. Send me some pix and I will be able to tell if they are handmade or factory made. I will certainly know if they are Hitchcocks. They are distinctive.

[@dahljerald2934]

Any chance you could elaborate on the Cage Back chair finish. Most common? Decorative features, etc.? Thank you, great video.

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

The chairs I show in this episode were finished with mustard milk paint and the rings picked out in dark brown. This was a well-known color scheme that imitated bamboo. However, by the early 19th century chairs were being painted in a many different colors. The chairs were usually solid with a contrasting color picking out the rings. Some simple decoration was sometimes applied, but sparingly as there are no wide surfaces on a bird cage.

[@waltcrawford6153]

Thanks for the video, great information. Would you consider doing a series on the balloon back chair with the crenolin stretcher?

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

My hope is to eventually teach all the classes we used conduct at our school. However, that depends on this channel becoming self-sufficient. I work for free, but the videographer insists on getting paid.

[@gravelcreekfarms3850]

Great info thanks

[@DianaSandersCinamon]

Would you know when they started using rush seats in Windsor chairs?

[@cattleNhay]

What about the rocker

[@thewindsorinstitute2047]

Windsors made before about 1810 that have rockers were later conversions. After that, Windsor rockers used the same seats as standard arm and side chairs. There was no specific rocker seat profile.