STRONG GRAINED ELM WOOD ANTIQUE BOW-BACK SMOKERS OR CAPTAINS CHAIR CIRCA 1880S - NOTE COLLECTION ONLY!

THIS IS AN ANTIQUE, BOW-BACK CHAIR, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A 'SMOKER'S' OR 'CAPTAIN'S' CHAIR. AN ENGLISH, VICTORIAN ELM WOOD PIECE FROM THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, CIRCA 1880.
 
THESE CLASSIC SMOKERS ELM WOOD BOW CHAIRS HAD A HEAVY, STURDY APPEARANCE WITH THE MAIN FEATURE BEING A HOOP OR BOW WHICH WAS STEAMED AND THEN CURVED TO MAKE BOTH THE BACK SUPPORT AND ARMS. THE CHAIR ALSO CONSISTED OF A WIDE SADDLE SEAT, SUPPORTED BY 4 SPLAYED, SPINDLE LEGS.
 
THIS ANTIQUE SMOKERS BOW CHAIR HAS A SHAPED BACKREST AND HORSESHOE SHAPED ARMRESTS RAISED ON TURNED SPINDLE SUPPORTS TERMINATING IN OUT-TURNED SCROLLED HAND GRIPS. THE ANTIQUE SMOKERS BOW CHAIR HAS A SOLID LARGE ELM SADDLE SHAPED SEAT, RAISED ON FOUR STOUT BALUSTER TURNED LEGS UNITED WITH A DOUBLE H STRETCHER SUPPORTS.
 
THE ELM WOOD HAS AN ATTRACTIVE DEEP, RICH TONE WITH A DESIRABLE AGED PATINA AND DISPLAYS GOOD GRAIN DETAIL IN THE SADDLE SEAT SLAB.
 
CARVED ON BACK JP HS AND LW WITH AN ARROW TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT.
 
SIZE: Max Width: 68cm Max Depth: 59cm Max Height: 76cm
Seat Width: 48cm Seat Depth: 49cm
WEIGHT 8KG
 
CONDITION REPORT: In used antique condition throughout with clear signs of age. There are surface wear in places including age-related scratches and marks to the seat, backrest and legs. The antique smokers bow chair remains structurally solid and sound, with good tight joints. Overall in very good antique condition.
 
WHY IS IT CALLED A SMOKERS CHAIR?
In its original form it was found in many country kitchens of the day as well as in many inns and public houses throughout the UK. It was called a Smoker's Bow Chair because the sweeping armrests were the perfect height to support the arm when smoking a pipe.
 
RARE ELM WOOD:
Elms exhibit some of the wildest grain patterns of any hardwood. Elm wood is a strong and durable wood with a characteristic twisted grain with an often seen U or V shaped ring pattern. Also often evident are irregular jagged lines that appear as feathers. This is a unique characteristic of elms and hackberry. It is also resistant to water and before metal was widely available, many English towns had elm water mains. The elm's wood also bends well and distorts easily. The often long, straight trunks were favoured as a source of timber for keels in ship construction. Elm is also prized by bowers and many of the ancient bows found in Europe are elm. Elm is also most commonly used in furniture making and in particular for making antique bow chairs where the main feature was a hoop or bow which was steamed and then curved to make both the back support and arms. Elm wood is now considered a rare wood to find due to the trees' susceptibility to disease, therefore elm wood furniture can often come with an increased price tag.

PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE ANOTHER SIMILAR SMOKERS BOW CHAIR ALSO ON  SALE. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK.
https://www.bidorbuy.co.za/seller/3685641/ErnRex1545