Finally, there is the Windsor chair of commerce, which deserves mention as a type occasionally - as in Mr. W. H. Bliss's yew example (Plate clx.i) of Gothic style - exalted into something approaching the artistic. Great numbers of these, with considerable varieties of shape, are illustrated in the books on old American colonial furniture by Mrs. Morse and Miss Singleton. They abound both there and here, together with the slat-backed, or crossbar-backed, chairs with rush seats. Mrs. Morse says (p. 157) that Windsor chairs appeared first in America, at Philadelphia, about 1730, where they were largely made. She attributes the name of Windsor to the tradition that one of the Georges popularised the style, an example of which he had seen in a shepherd's cottage. Se non e vero e ben trovato. The example of our illustration is an historic one. It formerly belonged to Oliver Goldsmith, and was bequeathed by him to Dr. Hawes in 1774. It is painted green, and has a rather curious circular seat (Plate CLX.2).

Plate CLX.

I - Windsor Chair, Yew, Gothic Style

2 - Chair, Wood, Painted Green 18th Century

CLX. (1) Windsor Chair, yew, Gothic style. Mr. W. H. Bliss.

(2) Chair, wood painted green. Eighteenth century. This is said to have belonged to Oliver Goldsmith, and to have been bequeathed by him, in 1774, to his physician, Dr. Hawes. V. & A. M.

Height 37¾.

Reference should be made to Hampton Court Palace for a very fine set of early eighteenth or late seventeenth century chairs at present in the great hall and the adjoining room. These have the angle before-mentioned about nine inches above the seat. The cabriole legs have hoof feet and shaped and carved stretchers. The splat suggests a jar shape, disguised with carving, or perhaps a fiddle-shaped spoon handle would be a nearer description. It is pierced and well carved in the style of Marot. The seats are upholstered in needlework. This set of ten chairs is one of the finest of its kind existing.