HISTORY
Evidence of rush seating turns up throughout history. The Vikings almost certainly used it, and in mediaeval Italy simple rush-seated ladderback chairs were commonly used. Strangely, considering that the best rushes grow in England, there's no direct evidence of rush-seating in Britain before the 17th century, though it's quite likely it was used before this.

RUSH CHAIRS IN ART
During the middle ages in the Low Countries and Spain rush seats were used, as can be seen in the painting by Nicolaes Verkuje (1673-1746) The Tea Party.

HOUSE INVENTORIES
Various house inventories included rush seats: 1708, Robert Hilliard of Writtle, Essex had '5 chairs rush ones'; 1705, a blacksmith's house had 'an oval gateleg table and 6 rush chairs to set around it'. Sheraton, the great furniture maker, described 'small painted chairs with rush bottoms'.

THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT
After about 1720 rush seats became unfashionable as upholstery gained prominence, but by the middle of the next century William Morris (1834-1896), founder of the Arts & Crafts Movement helped repopularise them. At this time there was a yearning amongst city folk for a more rustic way of life and rush seats seemed to typify this daydream.