Strange Chair

[ecokestove]

Not sure if this is the best forum. Does anyone know what kind of chair this is. Some have suggested a nursing chair, but I don't buy that. It's too low. You'd struggle to get out of it. I don't think the legs have been cut off because if you extend the line of the back legs to a 'normal' length they would stick out a long way. The seat was a plywood sheet with holes in it.

I had always intended to re-cane it, but it's been in the loft for over ten years and I don't suppose I'll ever do it.

 

[Old.bodger]

Yes - strangely I also know those as nursing chairs. Indeed if you Google ‘antique nursing chair’ you will find that they mostly have little legs, giving a very low seat height.

 

[Bod]

The arms are too high for a "nursing chair".
When you take into account the thickness of the seat cushion, I wonder if this is a one-off for a disabled person.

Bod

 

[Inspector]

I'd bet dollars to donuts that it originally had a seat of springs that with padding almost came up to the crossbar in the seat back. The darker shading of the finish say so.

Pete

 

[TRITON]

I believe this is called a slipper chair. Those were very low and i'd think the pad that goes on it would likely be 5+" or so thick, so not really really low.

 

[robgul]

I'd bet dollars to donuts that it originally had a seat of springs that with padding almost came up to the crossbar in the seat back. The darker shading of the finish say so.

Pete

Yep - I saw a chair like that at an auction a few months ago - not cane backed but the same shape with a massive seat pad.

 

[stuart little]

A short-legged chair!

 

[Henniep]

Not sure if this is the best forum. Does anyone know what kind of chair this is. Some have suggested a nursing chair, but I don't buy that. It's too low. You'd struggle to get out of it. I don't think the legs have been cut off because if you extend the line of the back legs to a 'normal' length they would stick out a long way. The seat was a plywood sheet with holes in it.

I had always intended to re-cane it, but it's been in the loft for over ten years and I don't suppose I'll ever do it.View attachment 124207

Very interesting. Please share when you have all the info.

 

[Austin Branson]

Not sure if this is the best forum. Does anyone know what kind of chair this is. Some have suggested a nursing chair, but I don't buy that. It's too low. You'd struggle to get out of it. I don't think the legs have been cut off because if you extend the line of the back legs to a 'normal' length they would stick out a long way. The seat was a plywood sheet with holes in it.

I had always intended to re-cane it, but it's been in the loft for over ten years and I don't suppose I'll ever do it.View attachment 124207

I believe it’s a prayer chair. Kneel on it to speak to an imaginary deity. No offense meant. Austin

 

[stuart little]

A short-legged chair!

Sorr-ry, must get out more, but couldn't resist!

 

[mrpercysnodgrass]

It’s a prie-dieu or prayer chair.

 

[Argus]

It’s a prie-dieu or prayer chair.

Possibly.

However, one requite of a Prie-Dieu, at least the ones that I have seen that take the form of a chair, would be a flat or level back on which to perch elbows or prayer books.