Relatives' chairs

Relative's chairs - Warrender and Cole

If you've read Philip Clissett's biography, or studied his family history, you will know that many of his relative's were also chairmakers. Stamped chairs by just two of these are known: by John Warrender (Philip's uncle) and William Cole (Philip's brother-in-law). Most of their chairs are identical, or virtually identical, to those made by Philip. Those shown here cover the entire known range by these two makers.

John Warrender

This is the "John Warander" referred to by Bill Cotton in The English Regional Chair - though he signed himself as "Warrender". He was born in 1784 and died in 1845, and was probably active from about 1805 until his death. He produced two side chairs (2 and 3 above) that are, to all intents and purposes, identical to two of Clissett's products. The only known armchair by Warrender (known by photograph only) is different to Clissett's armchairs, though it has many similarities. Most importantly, it is a ladderback with similar shaped rungs to Clissett's Arts & Crafts classic - indicating that the style was already in the family repertoire, without need to invoke the Kerry family of Evesham.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of the Warrender armchair, please get in touch. Similarly if you know of any types of Warrender (IW) stamped chairs not shown here.

William Cole

William Cole was not only Philip Clissett's brother-in-law, but also John Warrender's son-in-law - very much part of a chairmaking family. He was born in 1825 and died in 1881; he was probably active as a chairmaker between about 1848 and the mid-1870s. He lived in Bosbury, close to Philip Clissett, and it is reported that he worked with Philip, at least on occasion. We know of a range of side chairs marked with his initials - some of them very well made. His chairs seem to be much less frequently found than Clissett's, but that may because he was active for a much shorter time. His armchairs seem particularly rare. As usual, if you know of any types of WC-stamped chairs not shown here, please get in touch.

Note that while all illustrations here are of chairs with timber seats, one armchair with a rush seat is known.