Hi Darren,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

You're right to be suspicious . This chair - while made in the STYLE of chairs made in Jacobean period in the early 17th Century (AFTER King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth were alive in the 15th Century) - was made in the 20th Century or, at the very earliest, the late 19th Century. I can tell this from tool marks.

The number carved on the rail - VIII - means simply that this chair was part of a set that had at least 8 chairs, this being the 8th. While an 8-piece set of Baroque Revival carved chairs would be worth quite a bit - probably $2,000-3,000 or more depending on if there was important provenance (history of ownership).

A single chair, if it's in good condition and without any separations to the joints or stains to the (probably later) upholstery, is worth at auction these days between $150 and $250.

The term "backstool" refers to an early type of chair — specifically, a simple wooden seat with a back attached. It was a transitional form between a stool (which has no back) and a full chair and usually has a very vertical back, without much slope or angle.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Baroque revival carved walnut back stool
In the English manner, late 19th or early 20th Century
The heavily carved back with acorn-form ears centering a pierced tablet crest, barley-twist styles flanking carved and pierced splats, the trapezoidal seat raised on turned legs joined by a carved front stretcher and turned H-stretcher. Seat rail incised "VIII:
Dimensions - Height is 45 inches.
Seat height - 18 inches from floor to top of the seat.
Seat is about 21 inches wide.
CONDITION: this chair appears to be in generally good condition, possibly with a later seat upholstery fabric; value assumes no breaks, repairs, additions or losses.
PROVENANCE: Acquired at a garage or yard sale.
$ 150-250*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia