Why is it called a Gainsborough chair?

The name was applied later by the trade rather than by the people who made the chairs. It describes a form, not a workshop or a designer. Listings on Sellingantiques use it alongside "library chair" and "desk chair" for the same open-arm upholstered model.

What wood are they usually made from?

Mahogany, in just over half the titles recorded. It is close to a defining feature of the form. Walnut is a distinct minority. Beyond those two, the archive throws up single chairs in elm, solid yew and giltwood, plus one described as Cuban mahogany.

How old are most of these chairs?

The dealer-supplied dates run from 1750 to 1930, and the spread is two-humped. One group is 18th-century and Georgian, the other early 20th-century, with 19th-century chairs sitting between them. Only some listings carry a clean year. The rest use period labels such as "18th Century", "Georgian" or "George III", which are broader than a date.

Do they come in pairs?

Often. Around a fifth of the listings are pairs rather than single chairs, and pairs sit noticeably higher in the range. Larger groups are scarce. The archive holds one set of four George II armchairs and one set of ten Edwardian leather chairs described as carvers.

What does Georgian style mean in a title?

It signals the model rather than the date. Titles reading "Georgian style", "George II style" or "Gainsborough style" cluster with the 1900s to 1930s chairs. These revival copies follow the 18th-century shape closely and hold the lower end of the range.

Are wing and armless versions sold under this name?

Yes, though rarely. A pair of Gainsborough wing arm chairs and a set of George III Gainsborough side chairs both appear. It shows how loosely the trade name gets applied to related upholstered forms.