A mid-19th-century Mendlesham chair in fruitwood having three rippled back splats and an elm seat with a scribe line to the outer edge. Finished on turned tapering legs with an H stretcher. 
 
This higly decorative style of chair were manufactured in the Mendlesham area of Suffolk during the early and mid-19th century, originally by Richard Day, although after his death in 1838 other makers in the area appeared to follow in his footsteps until about 1860. It is thought that originally these chairs were not intended for daily use but were made for special occasions and given as gifts at weddings or baptisms.
 
The creation of such superior chairs from a small pastoral village in rural Suffolk is a remarkable event in the history of English craftwork. If Day was the original designer of this style, he was certainly an innovative craftsman whose knowledge extended beyond his immediate village indicating that he had possibly travelled to larger metropolitan areas or High Wycombe where chairs of a similar stature were made.
 
In very good condition with age-related wear and tear.