19th Century Elm Spindle Back Chairs with Rush Seats

Two antique elm spindle back chairs, 19th century, an elbow…
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Two antique elm spindle back chairs, 19th century, an elbow chair and smaller chair with dished crests, rush seats and legs with pad feet united by turned stretchers

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  • Elbow Chair - Another name given to a dining chair with arms, more commonly called a carver chair.
  • Pad Foot - In furniture design, a pad foot refers to a type of

    furniture foot that is shaped like a flattened ball or pad. It is a common

    design element in traditional furniture styles, particularly in English and

    American furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The pad foot is typically

    wider than it is tall, with a broad, flat surface that rests directly on the

    floor. It is often carved or turned with decorative details, such as fluting or

    ridges, and can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, or

    leather.



    Pad feet are used to support the legs of various types of

    furniture, such as chairs, tables, and cabinets. They are often used in

    combination with other types of feet, such as bun feet or bracket feet, to

    create a more complex and decorative furniture design. In terms of

    functionality, pad feet provide stability and support to furniture pieces, and

    can help distribute the weight of the piece evenly across the floor. In terms

    of design, they add a classic and traditional look to furniture designs, and

    are often used to create a sense of elegance and refinement.

  • Turning - Any part of a piece of furniture that has been turned and shaped with chisels on a lathe. Turned sections include legs, columns, feet, finials, pedestals, stretchers, spindles etc. There have been many varieties and fashions over the centuries: baluster, melon, barley-sugar, bobbin, cotton-reel, rope-twist, and so on. Split turning implies a turned section that has been cut in half lengthwise and applied to a cabinet front as a false decorative support.
  • Rush Seating - Associated with country style chairs, stools and settees, rush seats are woven from rushes, with the pattern of the weaving often dividing the the chair seat diagonally into four triangles.

    The weaving of rushes has been practiced for centuries, and it is believed that some early rush seats of the 18th and 19th century were painted, although common practice now is to leave the rush in its natural state. As the rush ages the colour

    Rushes of the type used in Europe for seating are not available in Australia, and instead fibre rush, a man-made product from one-ply twisted paper, is used. Another substitute material is twisted natural sea grass.

    Seats in Danish furniture of the 1950s were often finished with Danish cord, a three ply twisted paper cord, which has a similar appearance to rush.

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