What is an antique winged easy chair?

An antique winged easy chair is a high-backed seat featuring side panels designed to protect the sitter from draughts. They evolved from seventeenth and eighteenth-century domestic seating into enduring forms of household comfort. Today, these chairs appear across various periods, retaining their high backs and enclosed sides whether built as original pieces or later revival models.

How were these chairs used?

These chairs served primarily as fireside seating, where the wings trapped heat and deflected cold air currents in draughty rooms. They were positioned in parlours, libraries, and studies for reading and resting. Their substantial construction made them permanent fixtures in domestic interiors, intended for long hours of daily use.

How do I live with one?

Living with an antique winged easy chair involves placing it where its scale and high back will not overpower smaller rooms. They suit studies, drawing rooms, and reading corners as statement seating. Regular care of the leather or fabric upholstery and occasional maintenance of the exposed wooden legs will keep the chair stable and sound.

How do I tell periods apart?

Distinguishing periods relies on examining leg styles, wood types, and overall proportions. Eighteenth-century examples often feature walnut or mahogany with carved cabriole legs, while Victorian and Edwardian pieces show heavier framing and later revival influences. Construction methods and secondary woods inside the frame also provide clues to the true age of the armchair.