Antique Leather Easy Chair
An antique leather easy chair brings warmth and tactile comfort to a room, offering deep seating shaped by decades of use.
Identifying an antique leather easy chair
When you search for an antique leather easy chair, you encounter a robust form designed primarily for relaxation and fireside warmth. These armchairs span several distinct periods including Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras, presenting diverse profiles from wingbacks to club chairs and tub chairs.
The pieces appearing on this page encompass substantial armchairs with origins ranging from Scottish School designs to French club chairs and important Victorian models. You are most likely to meet heavily upholstered versions featuring supportive arms and deep seats designed for domestic comfort.
Makers such as Howard & Son's represent the higher end of Victorian production found within these categories, while other pieces reflect regional British or continental European workshops. Forms vary from sturdy tub shapes and fireside chairs to large Art Deco armchairs and George II period wingbacks.
Distinguishing quality across pieces
Quality separates through the integrity of the underlying timber frame and the depth of the upholstery materials used by the maker. Superior examples exhibit substantial proportions and refined architectural lines, such as the claw and ball legs seen on significant Victorian pieces.
The character of the leather itself defines the visual appeal at the upper end of the range, showing natural patination and supple strength. Lesser examples may present more uniform surfaces with less evidence of period craftsmanship.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for leather easy chair, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
Listings feature materials such as leather, mahogany, oak, timber, and brass or metal studs across various armchairs.
Howard & Son's
The Antique Leather Easy Chair Glossary
- Wingback
- An armchair with side panels or wings attached to the back, designed to shield the sitter from drafts. This form appears notably in George II period pieces.
- Club chair
- A deep, comfortable armchair upholstered in leather, often associated with French and Art Deco designs. These pieces emphasise low backs and generous seating.
- Tub chair
- An armchair featuring a continuous curved back and arms forming a single semi-circular enclosure. This compact form appears frequently in early twentieth-century listings.
- Claw and ball
- A furniture foot motif depicting an animal's talon grasping a spherical ball. This detail marks high-status Victorian armchairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these armchairs come from?
The listings span multiple eras, including Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s.
Each period imparts distinct stylistic traits, from George II wingbacks to twentieth-century club chairs.
What woods are used in the frames?
Makers utilised traditional hardwoods including mahogany, oak, and general timber for the internal support structures.
These durable woods ensure the structural stability of the heavily upholstered chairs.
Are these chairs suitable for daily use?
These armchairs were originally constructed for domestic comfort and reading rooms, making them robust additions to living spaces.
Their deep seating and supportive frames continue to serve functional seating purposes today.