Buttoned Velvet Lounge Chair
A buttoned velvet lounge chair brings together deep upholstery and tactile fabric from the nineteenth century.
Buttoned Velvet Lounge Chair
A buttoned velvet lounge chair encompasses nineteenth century seating forms ranging from low slipper and nursing chairs to library armchairs, chaise longues, and day beds. Victorian and Edwardian examples dominate the selection, alongside Regency pieces and later revivals spanning the period from 1850 to 1900.
Makers such as Gillows, Holland and Sons, C. Hindley and Sons, and Foot and Son appear among the larger open armchairs and reclining seats. Smaller occasional chairs and spoonback designs reflect domestic seating habits of the Victorian era.
Chaises longues and double-ended sofas provide extended lounging options upholstered in velvet, brocade, and fabric. Solid walnut, mahogany, rosewood, and oak form the structural frames supporting these button-backed seats.
Materials and construction
Frames are constructed from dense timbers including mahogany, walnut, rosewood, oak, and hardwood, providing rigid support for sprung bases and padded upholstery. Brass castors and decorative elements occasionally accent the timber legs.
Upholstery relies on deep-pile velvet and fabric covering internal springing and button-backed padding secured through the frame. Wood carving and turned elements shape the armrests and legs of Victorian and Regency pieces.
Buttoned Velvet Lounge Chair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for buttoned velvet lounge 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.
Brass rocking chairs from the Edwardian era offer a surprisingly metallic bounce.
Craftsmanship and distinction
Quality rests upon the integrity of the timber frame, the precision of the wood carving, and the depth of the upholstery work. Maker attribution to workshops such as Gillows or Howard and Sons elevates the standing of an armchair.
The choice of dense hardwoods like rosewood or walnut and the retention of original brass details separate standard vernacular pieces from workshop productions.
Gillows·Holland and Sons·C. Hindley and Sons·Foot and Son
The Buttoned Velvet Lounge Chair Glossary
- Button back
- An upholstery technique where indentations are formed by pulling tufting buttons deep into the padding. This secures the internal stuffing and creates a distinct geometric pattern.
- Spoonback
- A chair back shaped in the concave outline of a spoon, designed to fit the human spine. It is commonly found on Victorian and Edwardian reception chairs.
- Chaise longue
- An upholstered sofa in the form of a chair with a seat long enough for reclining. These pieces often feature a single raised end rest.
- Bergère
- An enclosed armchair with stuffed upholstery on a wooden frame, featuring cane or fabric sides. The style originates from French furniture design.
- Slipper chair
- A low-seated upholstered chair designed for dressing rooms in the nineteenth century. The reduced height allows for ease of use near the floor.
Buttoned Velvet Lounge Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a buttoned velvet lounge chair?
These seats combine nineteenth century wooden frames with deep-tufted velvet upholstery and sprung bases. They include armchairs, day beds, and chaises longues.
Most examples date from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, utilising timbers such as mahogany, walnut, and rosewood.
How do I identify a Victorian armchair?
Victorian armchairs typically feature dark hardwood frames, spoon-shaped backs, and buttoned velvet upholstery. Turned wooden legs often incorporate brass castors.
Workshop pieces from this era may bear attribution marks to makers such as Gillows or Howard and Sons on the frame or castors.
What is a chaise longue used for?
A chaise longue serves as an elongated seat designed for reclining in a drawing room or library. Nineteenth-century versions feature a single raised headrest and an upholstered body.
These pieces combine the support of an armchair with the length of a small sofa.
How should I care for velvet upholstery?
Velvet requires gentle brushing with the grain to maintain the pile and prevent flattening. Avoid direct sunlight to preserve the colour of the fabric.
Professional cleaning helps maintain the integrity of deep-pile velvet and button-tufted upholstery over time.