Object number
63/40
Description
A curved settle with wing arms, made of pine, from the kitchen at Lords Leaze Farm, Chard, Somerset. It was first fitted into the kitchen circa 1880 and removed in May 1963. The settle has three lids under the seat, in which tools were stored, and cupboard doors in the back, where bacon was hung to cure. The settle would have seated 7–8 people.
Physical description
1 settle: wood (pine); fair condition
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>9. <B>Settle from the farmhouse kitchen at Lords Leaze Farm, Chard, Somerset, c.1880</B><P> This piece of country furniture reveals the importance placed on functionality in the farmhouse of many a small and average-sized Victorian farm. Whereas the wealthier farmer could indulge new found tastes for extravagant and ornamental furnishings in mahogany and rosewood, displaying them in rooms only enjoyed by his family, seats like this would have had a number of practical uses in the smaller farmhouse kitchen where, during the day, the farmer and his labourers would all convene to eat.<P> The long, bench-like seat could accommodate up to seven or eight people which was perfect for a team of labourers. No padding was deemed necessary on the seats because comfort was not the object, it was merely to provide a brief resting place before heading back to work. Often placed round the front of the fireplace, the curve of the settle with its high back and winged slab ends would provide shelter from draughts drawn into the chimney and thus keep the workers warm. The three lids in the seat give access to storage space underneath where tools were kept, and the cupboard space in the back, enclosed by three pannelled doors, was used for hanging bacon. Occasionally settles would also be used to provide a partition in a room instead of a curtain. The multi-purpose nature of such an item was therefore ideal for the more traditional farm, even though one aspect of its appearance does betray a certain concession to Victorian fashion. Whilst it is made entirely of pine - affordable to the less well off farmer - its grained finish with ?scumble? stain is in imitation of the more desirable mahogany.<P> 63/40</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: … // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: DJE // Date: 10.3.80 // Description: Curved settle with wing arms. There are three double cupboard doors and three lids for storage under the seat and at the back. // The settle is made of pine and has a grained finish with ‘scumble’ stain. // Would seat 7–8 persons. // Dimensions: Height 1.73m. Width: 51.5cm Length 204.5cm // Associated information: This settle was fitted into the kitchen at Lord’s Leaze Farm, Chard, Somerset, c1880. The fireplace once incorporated a smoke jack which required a considerable draught to operate. The curve of the settle, which came round the front of the fireplace therefore provided shelter from the draughts drawn into the chimney. Tools were stored under the seat and bacon hung in the back cupboards. The settle was removed in May 1963. // Co. slide No. 4038 // References: Marjorie Filbee, ‘Dictionary of Country Furniture’, 1977 pp.152–154'
Production date
1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Nineteenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_4235.tif - High resolution image
