Blue Fabric Easy Chair
A blue fabric easy chair brings a comfortable Victorian or Edwardian form into a room.
Blue Fabric Easy Chair
A blue fabric easy chair brings together substantial nineteenth and early twentieth century seating forms upholstered in textile. Buyers searching for a blue fabric easy chair find armchairs, wing chairs, and club chairs spanning periods from the Victorian era through the 1930s.
The selections available here lean heavily toward pieces associated with workshops like Howard and Sons, alongside examples from the Edwardian period and Art Deco years. These range from button-back designs to deep club seats and wing chairs.
Materials span walnut, mahogany, and hardwood frames clothed in cotton, textile, and traditional ticking fabric, accented with brass details. The grouping offers a study in classic English country house comfort paired with period woodwork.
How they were made
Makers constructed the supportive frames using hardwoods such as walnut and mahogany, shaping them into sturdy arms, backs, and legs often fitted with brass castors. These internal skeletons provided the rigid geometry required for deep, sprung upholstery.
Upholsterers layered textiles including cotton, traditional ticking fabric, and heavy blue woven covers over the springs and stuffing. This method ensured durable support while allowing the exterior fabric to define the silhouette of the chair.
Listings span the Victorian era, 1870, 1880, the Edwardian period, 1920, and 1930, utilising walnut, mahogany, hardwood, brass, cotton, and textile.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard production and superior craftsmanship rests on the integrity of the frame construction and the preservation of original upholstery elements. Finer examples retain their initial ticking, stamps, and structural soundness without timber replacement.
Proportion and execution of the carved or turned wooden legs, particularly when paired with high-grade brass hardware, separate ordinary seating from notable workshop output. The harmony between the internal springing and the exterior textile finish dictates the overall standard.
Howard and Sons
The Blue Fabric Easy Chair Glossary
- Club chair
- A deep, low-slung armchair designed for relaxed lounging, often upholstered in heavy fabric. These pieces emerged strongly by the 1930s.
- Wing armchair
- A high-backed seat featuring projecting side pieces designed to shield the occupant from drafts. They appear frequently in Edwardian and earlier contexts.
- Ticking fabric
- A tightly woven cotton or linen material traditionally used as an under-upholstery layer to contain stuffing. Original ticking adds significant historical interest.
- Button back
- An upholstery style where depressions are formed in the padding by sewing buttons through to the frame. This technique secures the filling and creates a patterned surface.
- Brass castor
- A small roller wheel fixed to the base of furniture legs using a brass fitting. They facilitated easy movement across carpets and wooden floors.
Blue Fabric Easy Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a club chair?
A club chair is built for deep, low seating with generous armrests.
These pieces prioritise comfort through substantial padding and sturdy internal framing.
How do I identify a wing chair?
Wing chairs feature prominent upholstered flaps extending from the backrest.
Historically designed to trap heat and block drafts, this silhouette remains a staple of traditional interiors.
What is original ticking fabric?
Original ticking is the historic inner lining material left intact beneath the outer upholstery.
Finding this striped cotton layer provides clear evidence of untouched period condition.
Where do these chairs work best?
These armchairs suit studies, drawing rooms, and reading corners.
Their deep proportions require adequate floor space to sit comfortably among other period furnishings.
How do I spot an Edwardian piece?
Edwardian seating often exhibits lighter woods like walnut paired with refined proportions.
Makers of this era balanced Victorian comfort with a preference for slightly more restrained silhouettes.