Since 1710 the Windsor chair has been charming us. Originally used as an outdoor garden seat, the comfort and form of the Windsor chair endures. The spindles, the seat and the unique features all contribute to our fascination with Windsor furniture. Fitting in with colonial, cottage and country furniture, the Windsor’s got staying power.

In this three-part Windsor Chair Series, we’re examining Windsor styles, the features that make them great and the undying appeal that keeps the Windsor a popular favorite in an ever changing world.

Part 1: Windsor Chair Types

The basic form of the Windsor chair consists of spindles attached to a sculpted, solid wood seat. Variations of this basic form have lead to a variety of “Windsor types.”

Here we break down the elements that contribute to identifying different types of Windsors in this handy infographic.

Other popular variations include:

THE SACK BACK:  Amish Franklin Sack Back Windsor Bench

The back of the Amish Franklin Sack Back Windsor Bench is divided into two sections by a center rail that also forms the arms.

THE BENT PADDLE: Amish Bent Paddle Windsor Dining Chair

Bent paddle shapes serve as spindles in the back of the Amish Bent Paddle Windsor Dining Chair.

THE BENT FEATHER: Amish Bent Feather Windsor Dining Chair

Bent feather shapes serve as spindles in the back of the Amish Bent Feather Windsor Dining Chair.

THE FIDDLEBACK: Fiddle Back Windsor Dining Room Chair

A central slat resembling a fiddle shape is used in back of the Fiddle Back Windsor Dining Chair.

THE THUMB BACK:  Amish Thumb Back Windsor Dining Room Chair

The Amish Thumb Back Windsor Dining Room Chair has a thick crest with carved out thumb prints.

Tune in next month when we explore how features of the Windsor chair contribute to its function and form.

Related Posts

The Windsor Chair Series Part III: The Undying Appeal

While the Windsor chair will always be associated with colonial times and country style furniture, the truth is, Windsor chairs Read more

The Windsor Chair Series Part II: Features

The features of a Windsor chair contribute to its comfort, strength and style. We’re taking an up-close look at the Read more

A Brief History of the Windsor Chair {Infographic}

A Brief History of the Windsor Chair Infographic and text, plus links below! Here's the text and links for the Read more

Anatomy of an Amish Dining Chair

The most important things a fine Amish dining chair offers are comfort, style and function. What parts of the chair Read more