Help me identify these 2 pieces of furniture

[LoGiCa]

Hi, I need help identifyting these two pieces of furniture. They belonged to my grandparents who lived in the south east of the U.K. (sevenoaks to be exact).

Alot of their furniture was sold to Knole House http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knole_House but these two pieces were given to my mother.

Any ideas on the age and value of them? they both badly need restoring.

Thanks for the help

Hi res images can be seen here

http://imageshack.us/a/img10/3491/sdc12290s.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img46/5474/sdc12289v.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img826/9152/sdc12288.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img507/3629/sdc12287.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img560/9012/sdc12285.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img163/6393/sdc12284z.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img826/1330/sdc12283x.jpg

[bigwull]

may i suggest you try to upload your pics directly onto the forum...there are members on here who through no fault of their own...will not be able to see these pics as they are still living in the dark ages...i.e. dial up...as to the oblong seat...its got a rattan top on an oak frame...and its in need of a lot of restoration work...me personally..i,d be chopping it up for firewood...the same goes for the chair....

[LoGiCa]

Thanks for the reply. I have uploaded the pictures as suggested.

[mart]

Chair may go back to 18th century just from looking at the seat on it !!  If indeed the wood is as thick as it looks !! Both are pretty common styles for country furniture !! The bench possibly could be restored if you are handy and could recane it yourself !! The chair,, unless you just want to patch it up for a memento,, it would not be worth the cost to have someone try to restore it !! Its just too far gone I think to justify the cost !!  Value of these is minimal at best !! If it were me I would have someone use the bottom and restyle the chair into a stool that is true to the period just for a keepsake !! Could possibly reuse some of the other parts !!

[ghopper1924]

18th century?? I would think that would be worth restoring no matter what,  just because of age alone!

[mart]

Thats just a guess from what I could see on the imageshack pics !!! And only waited for two of those !! There is quite a bit of wood missing from the back of the chair as well as some separation of joints !! Enlarge the pic of the back of the chair and I think you can see what I am talking about !!

[ghopper1924]

I guess my preference would be to restore. I have onley one piece that old or older. It's a box from 1620 that was slightly altered in the 19th century. Totally worth restoring even though it's just a box!

[mart]

Well,, it could be done I guess, but with the chunk of wood missing and damage to top rail/crest might be costly !! Still wouldn`t add to value enough to be worth it in my opinion !!

[ghopper1924]

Yep,  just a matter of opinion!

[Ipcress]

Chair may go back to 18th century just from looking at the seat on it !!  If indeed the wood is as thick as it looks !! Both are pretty common styles for country furniture !! The bench possibly could be restored if you are handy and could recane it yourself !! The chair,, unless you just want to patch it up for a memento,, it would not be worth the cost to have someone try to restore it !! Its just too far gone I think to justify the cost !!  Value of these is minimal at best !! If it were me I would have someone use the bottom and restyle the chair into a stool that is true to the period just for a keepsake !! Could possibly reuse some of the other parts !!

Do you not think the chair is more likely early 19th ? That style of ring and vase turned leg...

Only nominal value though

[mart]

Could well be later !! Like I said I just looked at a couple of pics on imageshack and didn`t see much of it !!  Was basing that possibility on the wood seat !!  These pics don`t show it well !! Very thick and wide growth rings !!

[LoGiCa]

Thanks for the help guys. I added links to hi-res pictures in the original post if any of you wanted to take a better look.

[mart]

Excellent !! I would like a few others to take a look  !!  Good to get several opinions !!!

[bigwull]

still firewood...

[frogpatch]

That is a low back Windsor chair or "smokers bow." It appears to be early 19th century. From what I learned researching one of my own that the legs on the earlier versions came right through the seat. The fact that the seat is one plank and shaped is an indication of its age. These were made in many forms over many years. Put "Low Back Windsor Chair" into Google Images and you will see what I mean. I would leve it as is and use it. It really does not look bad at all to me. The split in the top rail is normal. Mart apparently is seeing more damage than I am. She has younger eyes.