Deep Seat Club Armchairs
These deep seat club armchairs offer generous proportions and upholstered comfort across 19th-century, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods.
Deep Seat Club Armchairs
Deep seat club armchairs are substantial seating designed for relaxation, appearing frequently in 19th-century, Victorian, and Edwardian styles. The selection includes large country house models, library chairs, and button-backed pieces alongside distinct forms like Bridgewater and Grafton styles.
Buyers often encounter English and French pieces upholstered in leather, fabric, calico, or hessian. Many examples trace design lineages back to makers like Howard and Sons or Gillows, while others showcase Art Deco or aesthetic movement details.
How they were made
Frames rely on sturdy timbers such as mahogany, walnut, and general wood construction, often paired with split cane panels or brass accents. Upholstery techniques incorporate calico, hessian, and top layers of leather or fabric over generous padding.
Construction methods range from traditional button-backing to deep springing designed to support the generous seat dimensions characteristic of these armchairs.
The available pieces span the 19th century, Victorian, Edwardian, 1920s, and 1930s periods.
What varies in quality
Quality depends on the integrity of the wooden frame, whether mahogany, walnut, or other hardwoods, and the tightness of any cane work. Substantial frames provide the structural foundation necessary for large-proportioned seating.
Upholstery materials also distinguish pieces, with supple leather finishes and traditional fabric or calico stuffing showing differing levels of craftsmanship and preservation across Victorian and Edwardian examples.
Howard and Sons·SF Cullen·Gillows
The Deep Seat Club Armchairs Glossary
- Bergere
- A closed-arm armchair with an upholstered seat, where the wooden frame is often exposed and the sides incorporate cane work.
- Chesterfield
- A heavily upholstered style known for deep buttoning and rolled arms, seen here in leather library chairs and club chairs.
- Button Back
- An upholstery technique where buttons are pulled deep into the padding to create a patterned, tufted surface.
- Bridgewater
- A traditional armchair design characterised by low arms and a relaxed profile, frequently associated with comfortable country house seating.
- Split Cane
- Woven plant material used in chair panels, particularly on the sides of bergere easy chairs.
Deep Seat Club Armchairs: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these deep seat club armchairs come from?
The selection spans the 19th century, Victorian and Edwardian eras, alongside 1920s and 1930s Art Deco designs.
Most pieces originate from British and French workshops, encompassing country house styles and formal library seating.
What materials are used in their construction?
Frames are built from hardwoods like mahogany and walnut, occasionally incorporating brass details or split cane panels.
Upholstery varies from leather to fabric, calico, and hessian, depending on the period and maker.
How do I identify a Howard style armchair?
Howard style armchairs typically feature deep, comfortable seating proportions and low rolled arms designed for lounging.
Many examples reflect the influence of the firm Howard and Sons through their generous cushioning and traditional tailoring.
Were these chairs used in libraries or living rooms?
They served multiple roles in historic homes, functioning as library chairs, country house seating, and club chairs.
Their substantial size made them principal pieces for reading rooms and formal sitting areas.