A High Back Yew Wood Windsor Armchair, impressed mark - Wheatland, Rockley (fl. 1822-1828)

A very elegant high back Windsor armchair, made in yew wood, with a beautifully grained elm seat. 

William Wheatland was the first of the Rockley chairmakers, and probably the most skilled, normally making very fine chairs, taking his lines very much from the Regency period of furniture making. An interesting constructional technique of Wheatland was to extend the long tapered spindles in the back right through the seat and cutting them off on the underside, making them clearly visible when turning the chair over. Sadly, Wheatland was declared bankrupt in 1830.

Wheatland always used the “single ring” leg turning, terminating in a peg foot. 

Very original condition and superb yew wood colour.

Rockley, Nottinghamshire, circa 1825.

Height 40 inches.

Ref 2006

Further reading on this maker and the Rockley chairmaking tradition, see The English Regional Chair, by Bernard D Cotton, pages 180 to 190.

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