Deep Blue Reading Chair
A deep blue reading chair is a comfortable upholstered armchair designed for long hours with a book, offering deep seating and sturdy support.
Deep Blue Reading Chair
When you search for a deep blue reading chair, you are looking at substantial upholstered armchairs built for comfort and long hours of sitting. The selection spans the nineteenth century and the Edwardian era, taking forms such as club armchairs, wingbacks, and library chairs.
The pieces you are most likely to meet on this page include nineteenth-century armchairs and large country house designs upholstered in rich dark textiles, alongside library chairs with wooden frames in mahogany, walnut, and rosewood.
Materials and construction
These armchairs rely on sturdy timber frames constructed from hardwood, mahogany, walnut, and rosewood, providing a strong structural skeleton beneath the upholstery. Exposed wooden legs frequently feature brass castors for ease of movement across floor coverings.
Upholstery methods involve traditional stuffing finished in durable fabrics, cotton, and leather. Buttoned backs and specialised ticking linings appear on maker-stamped pieces from prominent workshops.
Listings span the nineteenth century and the Edwardian period, utilising mahogany, walnut, rosewood, brass, and various cotton and fabric upholsteries.
Variations in quality
Quality in these armchairs rests upon the integrity of the underlying wooden frame and the precision of the upholstery work. Maker attribution to established firms elevates a piece above standard workshop production.
The choice of covering materials, from hand-dyed leathers to period-appropriate printed cottons, distinguishes a standard lounge seat from a premier library armchair.
Howard and Sons·Gillows
The Deep Blue Reading Chair Glossary
- Bergere
- An upholstered armchair with an enclosed wooden frame where the sides typically feature cane work. This French-inspired form became popular in nineteenth-century British libraries.
- Bridgewater armchair
- A specific comfortable armchair style defined by low arms and deep seating, frequently associated with nineteenth-century maker workshops. It is designed for relaxed reading and lounging.
- Ticking
- A tightly woven cotton or linen fabric traditionally used as a durable foundation cover beneath outer upholstery. Original ticking adds authenticity to period pieces.
- Wingback armchair
- An armchair featuring high side panels designed to shield the sitter from drafts and trap heat from a fire. These forms dominate country house library settings.
- Button back
- An upholstery technique where depressions are created by pulling strings or twine through the padding and securing them with buttons. This secures the internal stuffing and creates a diamond pattern.
Deep Blue Reading Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a reading chair?
A reading chair is an upholstered armchair designed with deep proportions and supportive backrests intended for prolonged periods of sitting with a book.
These chairs often feature lower arms and comfortable padding to accommodate relaxed postures during reading.
How do I identify a Victorian armchair?
Victorian armchairs are identified by heavier timber frames, dark hardwoods like mahogany and walnut, and often feature buttoned upholstery or turned legs with castors.
Stylistic cues draw upon nineteenth-century revivals, resulting in robust proportions and substantial cushioning suited for formal parlours and libraries.
Where should I place a library chair?
Library chairs suit studies, living rooms, and reading corners where their timber frames and deep upholstery can be appreciated alongside bookcases.
Their substantial presence makes them natural focal points in traditional rooms.
What is a club armchair?
A club armchair is a heavily upholstered, deep-seated chair built for maximum comfort and sturdy daily use.
Originating in nineteenth-century British seating design, these chairs prioritise soft padding and generous proportions.