Museum
The Falcon Inn Chair
Description
An early 17th-century oak panel-back armchair; the scrolled carved cresting above a floral-carved panel set within a strapwork-carved frame with applied inner mouldings; the scrolled arms raised on baluster-turned supports; the single-plank moulded and shaped seat on shaped and carved rails; with baluster-turned legs and plain stretchers; old label glued on back of panel: 'Chair from the Falcon Inn, Bidford where Shakespeare held his Club meetings'; English, Gloucestershire or Warwickshire, about 1630; extensive worm damage to base and rear of seat, turned finials missing, applied mouldings replaced, right arm-support repaired.
Thought at one time to have been used by Shakespeare, who allegedly drank at the Falcon Inn. The date of production makes this supposition implausible.