children's high - chairs, singles/pairs

A tall chair designed especially for children sitting at the table. There are several varieties. One of the most interesting, though uncommon, versions is the small elbow chair standing on a low table, to which it is attached by thumbscrews. A bar across the front prevents the child from falling out and when not in use the piece can be dismantled and used as a separate table and chair. These versions date from the early 19th century and a few Australian made examples have survived.

Most chairs, however, were similar in design to standard parlour chairs, though with longer legs and a cross piece for the child to put its feet on. As a rule, most 19th century high chairs were made to stand at normal table-height and the separate fold-up tray was not introduced until towards the end of the century. There are some quite remarkable high chairs made by American manufacturers during the Edwardian period on the same principle as the embossed spindle back chair. These pieces are not only high chairs, but convert to perambulators, strollers, and even rocking chairs.

It is important to distinguish between high chairs made for children and the tall office stools and chairs, often made from bentwood, on which innumerable Bob Cratchits scratched a miserly living at their clerk's desks, the victims of many Scrooges and high Victorian 'humbug'.