Armchair in Calico
An armchair in calico brings deep comfort and quiet neutrality, offering a blank canvas ready for your own choice of top cover.
Armchair in Calico
An armchair in calico represents a traditional approach to seating, upholstered in plain cotton fabric that serves as an initial foundation or a finished minimalist statement. Buyers seek these pieces for country houses and drawing rooms, drawn to deep seats and generous proportions designed for relaxation.
The selection ranges from Victorian country house models and Edwardian deep-seated chairs to Regency library chairs and French Napoleon III designs. Many pieces arrive newly recovered in calico, while others display the underlying Hessian and stuffing, ready for a bespoke top cover.
Construction and Materials
Frames are built from sturdy timbers including mahogany, walnut, beech, and general hardwoods, providing a solid skeleton for upholstered forms. Traditional webbing and stuffing support the seat, finished with tight layers of calico and hessian tacked directly to the wooden frame.
Some deep-seated armchairs arrive carrying decades of country house comfort beneath their crisp new cotton skins.
Judging Quality
Quality rests in the integrity of the underlying timber frame and the balance of the proportions, from low library seats to grand country house armchairs. Chairs bearing attribution to notable makers like Howard and Sons or Gillows demonstrate superior cabinetmaking and refined shaping in the arms and back.
The precision of the upholstery work, the tautness of the calico layer, and the robustness of the supporting springs and webbing separate standard seating from exceptional examples. Original brass castors and untouched wood surfaces further elevate a piece within its period.
Howard and Sons·SF Cullen·Mellier and Co·Gillows
The Armchair in Calico Glossary
- Calico
- A plain-woven cotton fabric used extensively as an upholstery foundation or as a neutral outer covering on antique chairs.
- Hessian
- A coarse woven fabric, often made from jute, utilised inside upholstered seating to contain stuffing and support the springs.
- Slipper chair
- A low-seated bedroom chair traditionally designed without arms to allow easier dressing.
- Duchess brisee
- A two or three-piece daybed arrangement combining an armchair and a matching stool or footstool.
- Spoon back
- An upholstered chair back shaped in a concave oval resembling the bowl of a spoon, popular during the Victorian era.
Armchair in Calico: Frequently Asked Questions
Why buy an armchair in calico?
An armchair in calico gives you a fully restored or structurally sound seat covered in neutral cotton, allowing you to use it immediately or commission your own bespoke top fabric.
These pieces often highlight the underlying craftsmanship of the frame and springs without the distraction of patterned upholstery.
How do I choose the right period?
Consider the scale and silhouette that suits your interior, noting that Regency and William IV pieces offer architectural lines, while Victorian and Edwardian examples prioritise deep-seated comfort.
French Napoleon III and slipper chairs provide more compact or scroll-backed alternatives for bedrooms and smaller drawing rooms.
Can I leave the chair in calico?
Many buyers choose to keep the chair upholstered in plain calico for a minimalist, neutral aesthetic that fits modern and traditional spaces alike.
The durable cotton fabric stands up well to everyday use while maintaining a clean, understated appearance.
What are Howard style armchairs?
Howard style armchairs are classic English seating designs known for their exceptionally deep seats, low scrolled arms, and superior comfort.
Original examples or quality attributions often feature low turned legs on brass castors and robust internal webbing.