A smoker's bow is a type of Windsor armchair with a low back, in which a horseshoe-shaped arm rail curves around the sitter and is topped at the back by a thicker shaped crest rail. The arm rail is supported on short turned spindles rising from a solid saddle seat, and the chair stands on turned legs joined by stretchers.
Smoker's bows were made in large numbers in England during the nineteenth century, particularly in High Wycombe and other chair-making centres, where turned components could be produced cheaply in quantity. They are usually made from a combination of timbers, typically an elm seat with beech or ash legs and spindles, and were often stained or finished to look like mahogany. The low, comfortable design made them popular in public houses, offices, clubs and kitchens, and closely related chairs were known in America as captain's chairs. Good examples have thick, well-figured seats, deep colour and a pleasing, worn patina on the arms. Collectors should check for loose joints, splits to the seat and replaced spindles. Their sturdy form makes them practical for use at a desk or kitchen table.
