Windsor Chairs at Odessa: A Collections Workshop

Durable and comfortable Windsor chairs have remained popular since their introduction to America in the mid-18th century.  Historic Odessa collections include almost 50 different examples spanning almost 100 years and representing many different regions.  Three different Windsor chairs by Sampson Barnet and four by Jared Chesnut, both of Wilmington, are among them. 

Furniture historian and author of A Storied Past: Collections of Historic Odessa (2023) Philip D. Zimmerman will lead a workshop to investigate this furniture form in detail. Among topics to be considered are: design, materials, construction, condition, connoisseurship, and the role of small details.  A few other kinds of chairs will provide a broader sense of context from the perspectives of the makers and buyers.  (All furniture is now included on the new, publicly accessible collection database, readily available on the Foundation’s homepage via the “search the collection” button.)

The workshop will take place in the Bank Building, which provides the space and lighting necessary to examine individual objects adequately.  Workshop attendance will be limited to ensure that everyone can participate fully.  Questions and follow-up discussions will be the order of the afternoon. 

Enrollment in this workshop is first come, first served, and will be confirmed in the order in which registrations are completed.  Please notify Historic Odessa of your intention to participate to ensure a space in this program!  To register, please contact Jennifer Kostik, (302) 378-4119 or jennifer.cabell@historicodessa.org; fee: $35,  $30 for HOF Members.