Brass Castor Easy Chair
A brass castor easy chair brings deep-seated comfort and nineteenth-century country house character into a room.
Brass Castor Easy Chair
A brass castor easy chair is a substantial upholstered armchair designed for relaxation, typically featuring sturdy wooden legs mounted on small metal wheels for mobility. The examples found here span the nineteenth century through the Edwardian period, encompassing Regency, Victorian, and later traditional designs.
Buyers encounter distinctive forms such as low club armchairs, deep-seated lounge chairs, and country house styles upholstered in ticking, fabric, calico, or kilim. Many pieces reflect the celebrated aesthetic associated with nineteenth-century workshops like Howard and Sons or Gillows.
Makers focused on generous proportions and supportive sprung seats, creating armchairs intended for libraries, drawing rooms, and studies. These chairs combine hardwood frames with visible brass castor wheels that ground the piece and allow easy repositioning across carpets and floorboards.
How they were made
The underlying structure relies on hardwood frames, predominantly walnut and mahogany, built to support complex interior coil springing and dense padding. Upholstery materials range from sturdy hessian and calico foundations to outer coverings of patterned fabric, leather, or simple grey ticking.
Cast brass fittings, including cup castors and small wheels, are secured to the base of the legs to provide smooth movement. These metal mounts are often stamped with maker details or patent numbers, reflecting nineteenth-century manufacturing standards.
Brass Castor Easy Chair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for brass castor easy 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.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard commercial seating and top-tier workshop production lies in the firmness of the frame and the sophistication of the upholstery technique. Pieces originating from prominent makers or refined country house commissions exhibit superior proportions and resilient inner springing that maintains its shape over generations.
The integrity of the timber framing and the originality of the brass castors significantly influence the standing of an armchair. Examples retaining their stamped components, original caster wheels, and period fabric coverings command greater appreciation among collectors than later reconstituted pieces.
Howard and Sons·Gillows·Hampton and Sons·Harrods London·SF Cullen
The Brass Castor Easy Chair Glossary
- Castor
- A small wheel mounted on a swivel at the base of a furniture leg to allow smooth rolling. These are typically fashioned from brass and attached directly to wooden feet.
- Ticking
- A tightly woven, durable cotton or linen fabric traditionally used as a featherproof covering for mattress and upholstery foundations. It often appears in striped grey or neutral patterns on country house seating.
- Club armchair
- A deep, heavily upholstered low-backed armchair designed for comfortable lounging. These pieces typically feature rolled arms and sturdy internal springing.
- Wing chair
- An armchair featuring high side panels attached to the back to shield the sitter from draughts. These forms date back centuries and frequently incorporate brass castors on the front legs.
- Calico
- A plain-woven unbleached cotton textile used as an interior lining or under-upholstery layer beneath decorative outer fabrics. It provides a stable base for buttoning and padding.
Brass Castor Easy Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a country house armchair?
These armchairs are characterised by deep, comfortable proportions, relaxed upholstery such as ticking or kilim, and a sturdy build intended for daily use in large country residences.
They often incorporate turned wooden legs with brass castors to allow the seating to be moved easily between rooms.
How do I identify a Howard and Sons chair?
Authentic pieces by this firm frequently feature stamped wooden frame numbers, signature ticking upholstery, and brass castors bearing maker inscriptions.
The overall silhouette is notably deep and sprung for exceptional comfort.
Why do some chairs have brass castors?
Heavy nineteenth-century upholstered seating required wheels to protect thick carpets and enable effortless rearrangement of heavy furniture within drawing rooms and libraries.
Brass was chosen for its durability and warm appearance against mahogany and walnut legs.
Are these chairs suitable for daily use?
Their robust hardwood frames and resilient internal coil springs make them exceptionally well suited for everyday seating in modern living spaces.
Many examples have been traditionally upholstered to withstand regular sitting while retaining their period character.