Asked on Nov 26, 2016

What kind of chair is this?!

I have searched for 13 years and still not sure of my chair. I have been told Barley twist, Jacobean, Berkey and Gay and louis. They are all similar but my chairs legs ans arms are much thicker. This chair stands 43 inc high and 23 inch wide, and is stuffed with hey and horse hair. I can find no markings. I'd hoped the carvings would help identify it, but I dont know that the carvings are called other than flower. Please help!
  9 answers
  • William William on Nov 26, 2016

    Based on my research, I would say its a hand carved Jacobean Barley Twist chair. The Berkey and Gay have straight legs and no twists, and the Louis chairs have Queen Ann style legs. With no makers mark its hard to tell a value. If I was selling it on Ebay, I would price it at around $400 to start, see if it gets any bites, then lower it to $300 after thirty days.

  • Tdr10797007 Tdr10797007 on Nov 27, 2016

    Yes this is Jacobean or I've heard it more commonly called at many auction pilgrim revival.

  • Sandy Sandy on Nov 27, 2016

    Yes I agree it is Jacobean. I have my grandmothers dining room set, plus the hutch. However I think the chair would be a "gentlman's" chair. Ladies did not have arms because it would crush or wrinkle the skirt of their dresses

  • One8414992 One8414992 on Nov 28, 2016

    Looks Jacobean to me.....

  • Vee Vee on Nov 28, 2016

    I was an antique dealer in the UK for many years and without seeing this chair personally I will venture a guess that it is more in the Jacobean 'style' than anything else mentioned. It might be the real deal but it's more likely a Victorian copy or maybe even later. There is NO barley twist on this chair. Barley twist is so called because it mimics the old fashioned barley sugar sweet sticks very prevalent in Europe. The value of this chair depends on if it is an original or a copy. If it's sturdy and comfortable, enjoy it!

    • See 4 previous
    • 15330759 15330759 on Dec 18, 2016

      My first thought was that the barley twist was waaaay out there in left field. Then I caught a glimpse of the stretcher and I think I am seeing that twist. As for the chair, and I have been selling for 30 years, primarily English furniture and objects, it does NOT give me that tingle and the goosebumps that I invariably get from fine old lovelies. Could be old and great, but the pictures are dark and the wood lacks the glow that you see on old and polished wood. It just looks dry and dark, might be a matter of poor lighting There have been soooo many variations that had some Jacobean inspiration. The thickness seems to me a clumsy attempt. The joinery would offer additional vital clues. Horsehair and hay! probably straw, are really positive clues as to age. All old chairs are not necessarily great design. But there is some value placed on age alone.

  • Louise Louise on Dec 01, 2016

    I have a similar chair but it is much taller and not upholstered. I've been told it is a "King's Chair." (Passing down through a large Catholic family it was always called "The Pope's Chair." and I can see where that misunderstanding came from!) Do some research on King's Chairs and see if that help.

  • June June on Dec 02, 2016

    I am fairly sure it was produced between 1880 and 1930 as Tudor revival.

  • Bev Bev on Dec 05, 2016

    My grandmother has chairs very similar.... they have some of the features of Jacobean Barley twist, but, like yours they are 'chunkier'. She always said they were English Cornwellian arm chairs.

  • Neil Johnstone Neil Johnstone on Dec 07, 2016

    I would say it is very old and must not be altered in any way