Illus. 149.—Windsor Writing-chair, 1750-1775.
Illustration [150] shows two late Windsor rocking-chairs, the one of curly maple being several years later than the other, as the rockers, short in front and long behind, bear evidence. These chairs are owned by the writer.
The Dutch chair with bandy or cabriole legs and a splat in the back made its appearance with the early years of the eighteenth century, and was the forerunner of the Chippendale chair. The first Dutch chairs have a back similar in form to the Queen Anne chair in Illustration [108], slightly higher and narrower than later backs. They are sometimes called Queen Anne chairs, and sometimes parrot-back, from the shape of the opening each side of the solid splat. The stretchers or underbraces of earlier chairs are retained in the first Dutch chairs, one of which is shown in Illustration [151], owned by Mrs. Charles H. Prentice, of Worcester.
Illus. 150.—Windsor Rocking-chairs, 1820-1830.
The first mention found of claw-and-ball feet is in 1737, when “six Crowfoot chairs” appear in an inventory. In one of 1750, “chairs with Eagle’s foot and shell on the Knee” are entered.
Illus. 151.—Dutch Chair
(back stretcher missing), 1710-1720.
A chair is shown in Illustration [152], still retaining the stretchers, but with the claw-and-ball foot and a shell at the top of the back. This chair was made about 1720-1730. It belongs to Walter Hosmer, Esq.