James Marsh, Sleaford: stamped medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair, turned underarm supports, 9 long spindles, 2 x 4 underarm spindles, ring and cove front leg turnings with single lower ring & plain back legs, H stretcher with cross stretcher turned with darts

WS 29 Marsh Sleaford

Found this one recently (May 2016) in a local antique centre and I knew immediately that it was a Lincolnshire chair - on closer inspection it became apparent that it was in excellent condition with no play in any joints and little wear for its age. The seat was covered by a red velvet fitted cushion and when I removed it there appeared a dirty mark at the rear of the seat; I rubbed the mark and I then could see letters appearing which spelled: MARSH SLEA.... No one had noticed this so I quickly negotiated the purchase and hurried out the door with it. A little research revealed it to be made by James Marsh of Sleaford. A little bit of history on James Marsh for you: he was baptised James Thompson Marsh in Nottingham in 1803. His parents were Thomas Marsh (from Nottingham) a Windsor chair maker, and Ellen Thompson of Londonthorpe (which is just outside Grantham) and they were married at St Wulfram's, Grantham in 1802. At the time of their wedding they were recorded as living at Little Gonerby (which was a tiny collection of houses on the very edge of Grantham, where the chair maker John Amos lived as well) not to be confused with Great Gonerby or Gonerby Hill Foot. Their wedding was witnessed by Richard and Elizabeth Hubbard  (signed chairs from Hubbard can be seen in Cotton's book) It's hardly surprising that he grew up to be a chair maker.  Compare with No 91.

© William Sergeant 2019