It was made in High Wycombe, probably at Walter Skull’s factory in the 1870s.
The workers who made the rush seats were known as ‘matters’. Before the 1880s, when local women could still find work as lace makers, most chair seat matters were men. As the hand-made lace industry declined, women began to make rush seats, and from around 1880 onwards, most matters were women.
This chair can be seen in the Hidden Hands exhibition at Wycombe Museum until 10 September. There is a lot more information about chair matting and other Chilterns crafts done by women in the exhibition.
Chair of the Month is a partnership between Wycombe Museum and the Regional Furniture Society.