Here's a pic of a characteristic (17th C.) oak settle, TEd - if you want to use me as a guinea pig to house your first attempt at making one, feel free! In the 19th C. they'd often be made of pine ~ presumably as much of our best oak had been slaughtered around the turn of the century, in the name of wars against the French, the Americans and other unruly elements... :)


http://antiques-internet.com/colorado/eronjohnsonantiques/dynapage/IP5826.htm