The set of four antique Jacobean dining chairs above demonstrates the square feet that were common during the earlier Jacobean era or the Cromwellian period. The stretchers are turned in the front to soften the rigid look common to many of the earliest Jacobean pieces.
Although upholstery is rare for Jacobean period furniture, dining chairs would have been the ideal choice for upholstery. Please note that the upholstery above is needlepoint showing wear in the seats. The wear does not take away from the value of the chairs and perhaps adds to the value as original.
The straight backs of the chairs do not spoon to meet the contour of the body. But, it is important to remember that prior to the Jacobean period chairs did not really exist. All sitting was on stools. Even the straight backs had to be an improvement.
Most of us will never have the opportunity to purchase an authentic Jacobean dining chair even if we wanted to. Many of what we see today that looks old and is in the Jacobean style was manufactured in the 1930′s when there was a brief revival of the Jacobean style.
For the person who may be particularly partial to the Jacobean style, the best bet for finding solid wood dining chairs and perhaps the dining table would be an auction. Ordinarily, I see quite a few pieces in the Jacobean revival style at small local auctions primarily in smaller towns close to rural areas. Many farm families in the 1930′s and 1940′s purchased the Jacobean style for the family dining room. As the children and grandchildren sell off the furniture left by their parents and grandparents the Jacobean style is relatively easy to find.
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