What is a Gainsborough chair?

A Gainsborough chair is a wide, open-armed library chair featuring upholstered armrests and a padded back on a wooden frame. These pieces were built during the eighteenth century for use at writing desks or in study rooms.

How do I spot a revival piece?

Revival pieces date from later periods like the Victorian or Edwardian eras but copy earlier eighteenth-century designs. Examinations of timber oxidation and internal construction methods usually reveal whether a chair is eighteenth-century or a later interpretation.

Where were these armchairs placed?

Original locations included libraries, studies, and formal drawing rooms where seating needed to provide both comfort and status. Wingback versions typically sat near fireplaces to block draughts, while library chairs stood beside desks.

What woods were used?

Mahogany and walnut form the primary structural timbers for these frames, chosen for their strength and rich grain. Secondary woods often appear in internal framing and support structures hidden beneath the upholstery.