by Rod Bankes
The "bamboo" style parts of many rod-back windsors exemplify the characteristics of chairs made in the early 19th century. They were adopted for their ease of duplication and the speed at which they could be produced. The popularity of the bamboo style resulted from America's increased involvement in the China trade. The most stylish form of this chair is known as a "bird cage" windsor, shown here. Alternate back spindles of the chair pass through a second rod, providing the allusion to a birdcage. The stretchers are boxed instead of the H-pattern characteristic of earlier windsors.