Welsh Backstools, Our Three Legged Chairs.

So, it's been a while since our last post and a lot has been happening. The summer has been busy, busy, busy for us all in Casa Del Whitethorn. We've had a few double and kingsize bed orders, green oak timber frame buildings, and a couple of shows where we were exhibiting and demonstrating. The weather didn't really help too much for this last activity. The normally great Weston Arboretum Treefest was a bit of a wash out this year sadly. Those visitor that did brave the weather were all very interested and friendly. Although I have to so most of the interest on our stand was focused towards Thistle, our new puppy, who wooed everyone by falling asleep beneath the shaving horse or by chewing the oak pegs I had carefully crafted only seconds earlier. It was good to catch up with Jon Mac and Sean Hellman, two very good and lovely craftsmen.

We have also had a bit of a run on some of our Welsh Backstools. I love these chairs, they have a simplistic beauty to them. I started making these several years ago after seeing a couple of examples in a book on traditional furniture and have had a love affair with them ever since.

Traditionally the backstool was a simple step up from the common stool. Either a 3 legged or 4 legged stool with a simple back rest added. With the 3 legged version, the back rest was sometimes an extension of the rear leg. These would either be a vertical board back rest or a spindle and combe like the example above. Sometimes the back rests would curve round to form arm rests.

I love the 3 legged variety. At shows and exhibitions it often takes people a while to twig that there are only 3 legs. The obvious benefit for the 3 legged backstool is it's stability on uneven surfaces. No wobbling for these beauties. They are also perfect for curing people of the habit of leaning back on chairs, potentially for good.

People often ask why only 1 leg at the rear. I have never seen an old museum or antique example any different. The back is always the single leg. I'd love to know if anyone has seen differently. In making a variety of different styles I've come to the conclusion that by having the pair of legs at the front, you increase the stability of the chair when getting on and off.

So is it a stool or a chair? 
Dictionary definition of a stool is 'a seat without a back or arms, typically resting on three or four legs or on a single pedestal.'
And a chair:  'a separate seat for one person, typically with a back and four legs.'

So perhaps the Backstool  does inhabit that grey area between the two. Historically speaking the term chair only seems to be applied to seating with backs and arms, until the late 18th century when backstools become classified as 'single' or 'side' chairs.

And why Welsh? 
All of the historical examples I have been lucky enough to see have all thought to have originated in Wales. Without doubt this design would have been used through the UK.

The backstools you can see in the pictures (4 in total) were in fact all destined for a lovely couple from the Brecon Beacons, to go in there 300 year old Welsh cottage with a very uneven Welsh slate floor.

But maybe the next batch should be re-labeled Dartmoor Backstools.