CORNISH CHAIRS. 393 



fasHoned by one of the finders into the present chair. Its height 

 is 33 inches and its girth is 64 inches. The seat is 19 inches 

 above the ground, and the diameter of this seat is also 19 inches. 

 The upper portion of the trunk has been hollowed out and cut 

 away so as to form a back, which is covered with leather, studded 

 at the edges by brass nails. The seat rests upon the trunk, 

 which is hollow, and has two large apertures, one on either side. 

 The chair is of oak and very heavy for its size. The photograph 

 was kindly taken by Mr. F. Chown, M.B., Townshend. 



In conclusion, I must point out that this paper must by no 

 means be taken as a conclusive account of the chairs of interest 

 in Cornwall. There must be many which have escaped my 

 notice, and I should be very glad to have an account of them. 

 It is interesting to observe that comparatively few have been 

 destroyed, or lost, and amongst these must be reckoned the 

 Lizard Chair and the chair at Lanlivery Church. To prevent 

 such a loss as the last mentioned, a preventitive might be taken 

 by the compulsory formation of a schedule of church movables 

 to be exhibited yearly to the Rural Dean at his visitation. 



Amongst the interesting notitia connected with the subject 

 of Cornish Chairs may be mentioned the purloining of one of a 

 set of Chippendale chairs, belonging to a Cornish squire, by his 

 butler, who removed it to the public house, where he set up his 

 abode after his departure from service. Long years after it was 

 discovered by a son of the real owner and recognised by the 

 crest and its similarity to the set which was in his possession. 

 It was only by purchase that he could restore it to its original 

 companions. Dickens, in his "Boots at the Holly-tree Inn," 

 gives a very mirth-provoking account of his having to eat his 

 supper at a chair maker's house in a Cornish village, who could 

 provide nothing but a bottomless chair to sit upon, which was 

 constantly causing the wretched occupant to topple over and 

 measure his length on the ground. Probably no more uncom- 

 fortable "seat" can be imagined than the edge of a " seatless 

 chair." 



