Antique Ladder Back Side Chair with Woven Seat

This is a chair of classic design, made in the traditional way. The parts were not cut from kiln-dried dimensional lumber, but sawed and split from green logs. This resulted in perfect grain orientation and superior strength. The rungs and legs were turned on a lathe – perhaps a spring-pole lathe. The slats were bowed and steamed. The back legs were also steam bent, then further shaped with a drawknife.

This chair is 33 inches tall, 17-1/2 inches wide at the front, and 14 inches wide at the back. From front to back, it measures 13 inches. The seat height is 16 inches. The width of the back increases from 14 inches at the bottom to 17 inches at the top.

The chair is of unknown origin and age. It is just the sort of chair that any handyman knew how to make for himself a century ago. It was not made for sale by an experienced craftsman – it leans badly to the left, as the pictures show.

The wood is very hard. It's hard to tell its species; but if I had to guess, I would say that it is white oak. There are few dents or crushes. Overall, the finish has suffered most. 

The seat is probably woven from oak splits, for the whole chair was usually made from the same tree; though it might be hickory bark. Either material makes a very strong, long lasting seat. Well cared-for, such a seat can last forty, sixty or even (in the case of hickory bark) eighty years. This one has not been so fortunate. There are about five places where the strips are broken. Nevertheless, the seat is probably still strong enough to safely hold a small adult.

As a piece of furniture, it's not worth much; though it could be rebuilt, refinished and re-seated: not easy or cheap.    But it's an authentic piece of Americana.