A fine, mid-17th century, oak turners armchair

he baluster and gun-barrel turned uprights supporting rows of turned and wheel spindles between turned bars on the back. The ring-turned, downswept arms joined to heavily turned front legs with finials. uprights The square seat attached with turned spindles. The legs joined by turned stretchers. Excellent original colour and patina. English, third quarter of the 17th century. 10071384

The height of tripod furniture is the turned armchair. These appear in the 15th and early 16th century. Elaborate versions have a turned backrest, supported by multiple turned struts, with each arm comprising two or more turned spindles. In some examples, the backpost ends at seat level, and the backrest is a framework of spindles. Late examples are mazes of turned spindles sprouting yet more spindles, indulgent showpieces for the turner's art. While rarely illustrated, these have survived, and provide clues to the construction of the other missing types.

Turned work has a very long history, and the trade of the Turner was well established by the 17th century. Turned furniture in this period consists predominantly of chairs, ranging from very simple rush-seated examples to incredibly elaborate and highly ornamented board-seated versions.