Woodworker's Journal 1985-9-5, страница 40
Antique Reproduction Child's Windsor ' ~ --■ -- Although certainly not reminiscent of the sweeping lines and delicate turnings that we generally associate with classic Windsor chairs, this Colonial era Child's Windsor nonetheless shares a common pedigree with its more refined relatives. It's representative of the great variety of Windsor derived designs that were made by i ountry carpenters and cabinetmakers. from the Colonial period well into the I Witt's. During the w inter months, when there wasn't much to be done outdoors, most anyone w ith even modest joinery skills would set to work 40 building furniture, which for the common folk, was always in short supply. Indeed, for the family that owned this charming little piece, the chair was no doubt something of a luxury. More often than not, children sat on stools or benchcs. Even a good quality full-size chair, if one were available, was usually reserved for the master of the house. That our little chair was well-used by what was probably a succession of children is plain to see by the wear. But curiously, the parts of the chair that are most worn are the lops of the back posts and the bottoms of the back legs. A substantial flat area has been worn into the back edges of these parts. The chair's owners. George and Mildred Gerath. of Collinsvitle, Connecticut. explained these telltale flats are witness to the fact that this child's Windsor served as a walker to toddlers just learning to gel around. With the chair laying on its back (see photo on page 43). the youngsters would grasp the seat or front stretcher, and push the chair across the floor. In the absence of the plastic w alkers that we're all too familiar with today, it's not hard to understand thai children from earlier times also The Woodworker's Journal |
