Classic Chairs
Classic chairs encompass enduring forms like armchairs, dining chairs, and rocking chairs spanning periods from the eighteenth century to the twentieth.
Classic Chairs
When buyers search for classic chairs, they encounter a diverse selection of seating spanning multiple centuries and stylistic traditions. The pieces on this page comprise armchairs, dining chairs, rocking chairs, and lounge suites originating from eras such as the Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian periods.
Armchairs represent a significant portion of the selection, including wingback designs, leather club chairs, and barrel backs. Dining chairs appear frequently, often in sets numbering four, six, eight, ten, or thirteen, executed in mahogany, cherry, or simulated rosewood.
Materials and construction
Cabinetmakers and upholsterers relied on hardwoods such as mahogany, yew, cherry, and rosewood for the structural frames of these seats. Bentwood techniques also appear among the rocking chairs, offering lighter curved forms.
Upholstery utilised traditional fillings covered in leather, velvet, fabric, and specialised upholstery textiles. Brass details and decorative tacks frequently accent the leather club chairs and wingbacks.
Frames demonstrate period joinery methods appropriate to each era, supporting the heavy padding of Victorian and Edwardian armchairs as well as the slender profiles of Regency dining suites.
Classic Chairs Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for classic chairs 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.
Listings feature seating from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, utilising mahogany, leather, brass, and velvet.
Determining quality
The integrity of the wooden frame and the precision of the joinery set superior examples apart from standard workshop productions. Timber selection dictates much of the visual weight, with finely figured mahogany or burr maple marking the upper tier of dining and lounge suites.
Upholstery standard defines comfort and durability, distinguishing hand-stitched leather work and quality velvet or fabric applications from later commercial recoveries. The retention of original period elements, such as specific maker stamps or matching sets of dining carvers, elevates the standing of individual pieces.
HOWARD AND SONS
The Classic Chairs Glossary
- Carver
- An armchair designed to match a set of dining chairs, usually placed at the head of a table.
- Bergere
- An enclosed upholstered armchair with wooden framing and woven cane panels on the sides or back.
- Wingback
- An armchair featuring side panels or wings attached to the arms and back to block draughts.
- Bullseye
- A decorative turning pattern often found on the spindle backs of traditional kitchen chairs.
- Reeded
- A decorative moulding consisting of parallel convex rounded fillets applied to chair legs or frames.
Classic Chairs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date a wingback armchair?
Dating relies on examining the timber frame beneath the upholstery, the rake of the legs, and the shape of the wings. Earlier eighteenth-century examples display different proportions compared to Victorian or Edwardian revivals.
Matching the construction techniques to known period styles helps narrow down the decade of manufacture.
Are leather club chairs comfortable for daily use?
Leather club chairs offer deep, sprung seating designed for sustained relaxation. The combination of supportive interior stuffing and soft leather upholstery provides a durable seat for daily lounging.
Their substantial proportions suit studies, libraries, and living spaces alike.
What defines a Regency dining chair?
Regency dining chairs typically feature dark hardwoods like mahogany or simulated rosewood, often with saber legs and carved top rails. They reflect early nineteenth-century neoclassical design influences.
These pieces frequently appear in matched sets for formal dining rooms.
Can I mix different chair styles around a dining table?
Mixing chair styles is a traditional approach to furnishing dining spaces, often pairing a set of standard chairs with matching carvers at each end. Combining different periods can create an eclectic interior.
Ensuring consistent wood tones or similar seat heights helps maintain visual harmony.