Q: Good Morning! I was perusing Desire to Inspire and found the attached photograph. I am DRAWN to these chairs and would love to have them or something similar (sadly, the photo was credited to Douglas Friedman, but alas, his site is NO HELP WHAT SO EVER....and have I mentioned how much I love these chairs?). Does anyone know where I can find them or something similar? Thanks so much!
Sent by Nadine
Editor: I've asked our own Apartment Therapy experts — Johnny Williams of WoodWise and Anna Hoffman of Retrospect — to help define the type of chair to help you with your search:
JOHNNY: These types of chairs are called bobbin chairs. It is definitely accurate to call them "elaborately turned". From my understanding, the turnings and the design of the chairback (with multiple stiles and stretchers to be specific) are unique to this style furniture.
ANNA: This sort of turning, as well as more of a twisted form, were popular in 17th-century Holland and England and, to some extent, America. The form of this chair looks to me like a modern updating of a vernacular ladderback chair, with that Renaissance turning detail — but it's hard to tell from the photo. Here is a little history lesson on bobbin chairs — definitely English 17th c., but some of these look "sausage-turned" to me and others look like what I've learned to be characteristically Dutch, with twisted legs: The Development Of The English Oak Chair. Part 10.
Thanks, bloggers — do any readers have advice for where Nadine can find her own Bobbin Chairs?
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
Hickory Chair makes amazing bobbin chairs, you can find some occasionally on Ruby Lane as well.
view AliciaBDesigns's profile
Flea Markets, Estate Sales, Consignment Shops, Antique Shops...
view bepsf's profile
I looked all over for these when I was buying a new kitchen table/chairs. Grange made a chair with a similar look but much more refined. Sadly, it was way out of my budget. Martha Stewart also made a bobbin chair that was much larger (more a living room chair than for the kitchen). I hope you have better luck than I did!
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I don't think I have ever seen a Bobbin or Victorian Bobbin chair that was not expensive, be prepared to pay big cash for them.
The only place a saw them to be affordable was in San Miguel de Allende at one of the shops in the Fabric La Aurora.
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That's the kitchen of Angus Wilkie and Len Morgan. A tour of their house was featured in Martha Stewart Living. I assume the chairs, which the text calls "bobbin-turned English Regency" came from their shop, Cove Landing, in NYC. And judging by the rest of the amazing antiques in their amazing house, I assume they are amazingly expensive. The house tour is on the MSL site,
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/home-tour-country-cottage
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I just saw these in a Country Living magazine, Sept. 2009 ed., and were listed as being from jaysonhomeandgarden.com and were priced at $495 ea.
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