What is an open elbow chair?

An open elbow chair is a seat featuring wooden or partially upholstered arms that are left open rather than enclosed. These pieces bridge the gap between dining chairs and heavy armchairs, offering arm support without bulk. Craftsmen built them for multiple rooms in the house, including dining spaces, libraries, and bedrooms. The open construction keeps the silhouette light and showcases the timber frame.

Where were they used?

These chairs served multiple domestic functions, appearing around dining tables, beside desks, and in libraries for reading. Formal drawing rooms and morning rooms also accommodated them as occasional seating. Country versions found places in halls and firesides, while lighter salon models suited parlour settings. Their versatility made them standard furnishings across Georgian and Victorian homes.

How do I date a chair?

Dating relies on stylistic markers, timber choices, and construction methods characteristic of specific periods. Georgian pieces often display carved mahogany or satinwood, whereas later Victorian examples utilise heavier proportions and walnut. Revival periods frequently imitated eighteenth-century designs during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Examining the joinery and underside often reveals the age of the piece.

Are they comfortable for daily use?

Their comfort depends on the seat type and proportions, with upholstered and deep-sprung variants offering softer seating than rush or solid wood pads. Library and desk chairs generally prioritise upright support over deep lounging. Many period pieces accommodate daily use when paired with appropriate cushions or maintained upholstery. Their upright stance suits dining and working environments.

Home > Antiques For Sale > Open Elbow Chair > Page 13

Antique Open Elbow Chair

234 items · page 13 of 15

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An antique open elbow chair provides sturdy arm support and a formal seat, merging the utility of a dining chair with the comfort of an armchair.

1900 - 1920

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A Wonderful Childs Armchair

From Wayne Long Antiques and Interiors

£295

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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Georgian Mahogany, Desk / Elbow Chair

From Pear Tree Antiques

£245

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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Inlaid Mahogany Armchairs C.1840

From Collinge Antiques

£595

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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19th Century Large Proportioned Open Armchair

From TallBoy Interiors

£1,295

FOR SALE

chairs

1900 - 1920

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Pair of Edwardian Oak Arts & Crafts Open Carver Armchairs with Upholstered Drop in Seats, Carved Slot Back, Tapering and Fluted Supports with Four Stretchers

From Y Not Antiques

£675

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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A Pair of Regency Mahogany Armchairs

From Robert Dee

£225

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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Pair of William IV Mahogany Arm Chairs

From Thakeham Furniture

£4,300

FOR SALE

chairs

1900 - 1920

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Pair of Regency Style Ebonised & Gilded Armchairs

From John Howkins Antiques

£595

FOR SALE

chairs

A Very Unusual Late Georgian Porters/masonic Chair

18th century

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A Very Unusual Late Georgian Porters/masonic Chair

From Pendle Antiques

£985

FOR SALE

chairs

Antique Drawing Room Elbow Chair, English, Carver, Chippendale Taste, Georgian

18th century

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Antique Drawing Room Elbow Chair, English, Carver, Chippendale Taste, Georgian

From London Fine Antiques

£1,195

FOR SALE

chairs

Eisteddfod wainscot throne chairs appear alongside delicate salon carvers, proving nineteenth-century makers built open elbow seats for every possible occasion.

1900 - 1920

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Georgian Style Walnut Library Armchair

From Harrison Antique Furniture

£790

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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Late 19th Century Ebonised and Decorated Shield Back Open-arm Armchair

From Blank Canvas Antiques

£790

FOR SALE

chairs

18th century

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A Pair of Chippendale Period Arm Chairs

From W.J. Gravener Antiques Ltd.

£4,850

FOR SALE

chairs

English Chippendale Style Armchair Circa 1880

19th century

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English Chippendale Style Armchair Circa 1880

From Robert Belcher Antiques

£2,195

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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Victorian Mahogany Carver Armchair

From Affordable Old Furniture

£250

FOR SALE

chairs

19th century

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Welsh Oak Armchair, Circa 1790

From WelshAntiques

£240

FOR SALE

chairs

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Antique Open Elbow Chair

A Wonderful Childs Armchair

Georgian Mahogany, Desk / Elbow Chair

Inlaid Mahogany Armchairs C.1840

19th Century Large Proportioned Open Armchair

Pair of Edwardian Oak Arts & Crafts Open Carver Armchairs with Upholstered Drop in Seats, Carved Slot Back, Tapering and Fluted Supports with Four Stretchers

A Pair of Regency Mahogany Armchairs

Pair of William IV Mahogany Arm Chairs

Pair of Regency Style Ebonised & Gilded Armchairs

A Very Unusual Late Georgian Porters/masonic Chair

Antique Drawing Room Elbow Chair, English, Carver, Chippendale Taste, Georgian

Georgian Style Walnut Library Armchair

Late 19th Century Ebonised and Decorated Shield Back Open-arm Armchair

A Pair of Chippendale Period Arm Chairs

English Chippendale Style Armchair Circa 1880

Victorian Mahogany Carver Armchair

Welsh Oak Armchair, Circa 1790

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