An impressive George III fruitwood and elm boarded high-back bowed canopy settle, West Country, circa 1800


Having a raked back of multiple upright slender boards and narrow canopy 'shelf', winged-shaped slab ends, interior scroll-ended armrests on columnar-turned front supports, and a single-board well-figured elm seat, 199cm wide x 70cm deep x 151cm high, (78in wide x 27 1/2in deep x 59in high)
|Provenance:A Welsh Quaker Meeting House, removed circa 2005Sold Christie's, London, 28 February 2006, Lot 64, when catalogued as lime-woodDavid Knell, English Country Furniture 1500-1900 (2000), pp. 348-350, illustrates several high-back settles, all attributed to the West Country. The settles bowed-form adds to the stability of the piece, which together with the high-back can often create an effective room-divider. Furthermore, the enclosed sides and a back extending to floor level, adds a significant degree of comfort for the sitter, since they are virtually impervious to drafts.