The antique William and Mary dining chairs pictured above are among the best examples I have seen of the William and Mary style. These two chairs were sold with the other four matching chairs at auction.
The dining chairs pictured are made of walnut, the wood of favor during the William and Mary era. It is important to note that in this example the stretchers used for bracing are not X-shaped as is most often the case. However, the front stretcher is curved upward to add to the design. All the stretchers are turned or carved in the example. Note the bun feet (slightly flattened ball).
Of note is the high back of the chair. One of the recognizable traits of William and Mary dining chairs is the straight back that rises higher than in other styles. Many of the reproduction William and Mary style dining chairs have upholstered seats and backs. As shown in the picture above, many of the authentic dining chairs from the William and Mary era had upholstered seats but carved backs.
The most notable points of recognition of these dining chairs are the legs and stretchers and the high backs. Note that the seat narrows towards the back unlike the Jacobean seats that were square with no narrowing.
Few of us will come across authentic William and Mary dining chairs, but the examples above serve as a good example of the best of the best elements of the dining chairs of the era.
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