With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the distinct pleasure in offering a spectacular set of eight tiger maple dining chairs. These chairs were constructed to the exact same standards as any fine traditional early American windsor thumb back chair of the late 18th century. Throughout the American federal period windsor chairs in the thumb back fashion were produced all throughout New England and the tri-state areas particularly in the countryside where the style was most heavily favored. Thumb back chairs are denoted for the curved form of the chair back which is contoured similarly to the natural curvature of a thumb. This interpretation of the American windsor chair form is superior to the standard antique windsor chair as it provides more comfort compared to a straight back formed chair and demonstrates the superior skills of an experienced chair maker. Collectors of early American antiques in the past few decades have driven up the prices of matching antique windsor chairs in sets of four, six, and eight to record high pricing with most auctioneers and dealers reasonably expecting in excess of a thousand dollars per chair for any matching sets. Out of all the sets that are known to exist expertly grain painted chairs and solid tiger maple chairs command the highest values and competition among passionate collectors. This set of chairs was produced by an expert chairmaker forty years ago as a wedding present for his daughter who ultimately sold them to us after many years of gentle use and admiration. It was our privilege to bring this set of chairs back to New England with us as they had traveled all the way to coastal California. These chairs are entirely made of solid tiger maple and are each well formed and contoured for comfort. The chairs are very sturdy and well suited for generations of continued use. Each chair features an arrow back form with three curved splats comprising the back rest. The seats are made from hand tied rush which remain quite strong and have compass form hooped seats. The chairs are supported by finely turned legs and a turned medial stretcher and have double stretcher supports on either side.
