Antique Lounger Chair
An antique lounger chair offers deep rest through folding mechanisms, extended seats and reclining backs designed for indoor repose or garden leisure.
Antique Lounger Chair
An antique lounger chair encompasses daybeds, chaise longues, steamer deck chairs, and reclining armchairs designed for complete relaxation.
The pieces appearing on this page span the Victorian, Regency, Edwardian, and Arts and Crafts periods, incorporating French Country and colonial campaign styles.
Forms range from rosewood chaise longues and mahogany daybeds to folding walnut steamer deck chairs, teak plantation chairs, and wicker garden armchairs.
How they were made
Cabinet makers utilised dense timbers such as mahogany, rosewood, walnut, oak, and teak to construct the structural frames of these seats.
Comfort was achieved through woven cane, rattan, and wicker alongside upholstery in leather and velvet, supplemented by brass fittings for folding or reclining mechanisms.
Antique Lounger Chair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for lounger chair among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
The listings on this page span the nineteenth century through the early twentieth century, featuring rosewood, mahogany, walnut, cane, and leather.
What varies in quality
The standard of timber selection and the complexity of the carved or turned woodwork distinguish simpler folding frames from grander reception room pieces.
The integrity of original woven elements like cane and rush, alongside the sophistication of mechanical reclining adjustments, sets individual examples apart.
Howard and Sons·Angraves of Leicester·Robert Daws·C Hindley and Sons
The Antique Lounger Chair Glossary
- Chaise longue
- An upholstered chair combined with an extended seat, designed for reclining in domestic interiors.
- Steamer deck chair
- A folding wooden chair with an adjustable back and extended leg rest, originally built for travel.
- Plantation chair
- A deep-seated chair featuring elongated extending arms used as leg rests, common in colonial contexts.
- Bergere
- A closed-frame upholstered armchair with cane work panels on the back and sides.
Antique Lounger Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
Where were steamer deck chairs used?
These folding wooden chairs served passengers travelling on ocean liners and were later deployed on domestic lawns and verandas.
Their folding frames allowed easy storage when not in use during colder months.
How do plantation chairs differ from armchairs?
Plantation chairs feature unusually long, flat arms that pivot or extend forward to support the occupant's legs.
This design originated in tropical colonial settings to maximise airflow and physical comfort.
What distinguishes a chaise longue from a daybed?
A chaise longue typically combines an armchair back with a seat length intended for reclining with upper body support.
Daybeds offer a uniform horizontal surface designed primarily for daytime rest or sleeping.
Are these reclining chairs mechanical?
Many period reclining library and lounge chairs utilise adjustable ratchets or hinged wooden brackets concealed within the frame.
These mechanisms allow the backrest to alter angles smoothly for reading or resting.