Late 19Thc Provincial Black Painted Pine Box Settle C.1880

The box hall settle showing a textured black painted pine carcass in the wonderful original paint worn thoroughly and consistently with age, having open scrolled arm rests and a low four panelled back, raised on rectangular supports, the middle seat opening to reveal a useful compartmentalised storage area and the whole surviving from the last quarter of nineteenth century Britain, and possibly Wales.

The rustic and provincially made carcass has a wonderful patina, with a host of character commensurate with its age and use. The lower front panel may have been re-touched at some stage. The box seat is fully functionable whilst the reverse is un-meddled with and shows more of the stained pine first coat of paint. There is no worm and she is ready to go.

Settles are commonly movable, but occasionally fixed. The settle shares with the chest and the chair the distinction of great antiquity. Its high back was a protection from the draughts of medieval buildings, protection which was sometimes increased by the addition of winged ends or a wooden canopy. It was most frequently placed near the fire in the common sitting-room. According to historian Claudia Kinmonth, in early furniture inventories the use of the terms bench and settle were interchangeable, but that generally a settle was understood to have arms.

Constructed of oak or other hardwood, it was extremely heavy, solid, and durable. Few English examples of earlier date than the middle of the 16th century are extant; survivals from the Jacobean period are more numerous. Settles of the more expensive type were often elaborately carved or incised; others were divided into plain panels. They were commonly used in farmhouse kitchens or manorial halls. Its vogue did not long outlast the first half of the 18th century. They are usually very characterful pieces as they got heavy use, being found in pubs, taverns or working farmhouses, so they can have the most amazing charm about them.

A decorative and useable piece of vernacular furniture in a very handy size.