Only known low-back armchair by William Cole of Bosbury. [Photo courtesy of Gary Glover] Recently, there seems to have been a flurry of William Cole armchairs coming to my attention. This is very strange as, until 2015, I’d not seen any (though one was lurking in the Museum of the Home). They are very similar to Philip Clissett’s armchairs except for three obvious features. The most consistent one is the arm support turning, which is much more bulbous at the top than Clissett’s. On three of the four known chairs, the arms are unlike Philip Clissett’s spindleback chair, being broad and flat very similar to those on Clissett’s later ladderbacks. Also different, but rather variable, is the placing of one of the crossbars in the back, being placed very close to the arm insertions in the back legs. All of these are high-backed armchairs. Clissett also made a low-back armchair in this style – no 6 on the spindleback chair page. But, so far, we haven’t seen one of these from his brother-in-law.
Now, Gary Glover has contacted me with photographs of his two William Cole armchairs! And one of them is a low-back (see photo above). Gary’s chairs look as though they were made to go together, and both have the broad arms described above.
I’m very grateful to Gary for the information about his chairs. While it seems almost inevitable that other Cole armchairs will emerge, there’s little doubt that his low-back chair is extremely rare. The pairing of the high-back with the low-back is possibly unique, and I hope they can continue to stay together.
Just to reiterate the chairmaker relationships. William Cole lived in Bosbury, Herefordshire, close to Philip Clissett, and his sister was married to Clissett. Cole himself was married to the daughter of John Warrender, another chairmaker who was Philip Clissett’s uncle by marriage.
Now, Gary Glover has contacted me with photographs of his two William Cole armchairs! And one of them is a low-back (see photo above). Gary’s chairs look as though they were made to go together, and both have the broad arms described above.
I’m very grateful to Gary for the information about his chairs. While it seems almost inevitable that other Cole armchairs will emerge, there’s little doubt that his low-back chair is extremely rare. The pairing of the high-back with the low-back is possibly unique, and I hope they can continue to stay together.
Just to reiterate the chairmaker relationships. William Cole lived in Bosbury, Herefordshire, close to Philip Clissett, and his sister was married to Clissett. Cole himself was married to the daughter of John Warrender, another chairmaker who was Philip Clissett’s uncle by marriage.
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