What is a wing armchair used for?

These chairs were originally designed to sit beside fireplaces, where the upholstered side panels trapped heat and blocked cold draughts from reaching the occupant's head and shoulders. Over time, they transitioned into general library and drawing room seating, functioning primarily as comfortable reading chairs due to their high backs and supportive armrests.

How do I tell an 18th-century chair from a revival piece?

Original eighteenth-century examples exhibit authentic age in the timber surfaces, hand-cut joinery marks, and traditional frame construction beneath the upholstery. Hessian webbing and secondary woods often reveal the true period of manufacture. Revival pieces from the Victorian era or the early twentieth century mimic these earlier silhouettes but utilise nineteenth- or twentieth-century hardware, machine-sawn timbers, and modern fastening methods.

How should I clean a leather wing chair?

Leather upholstery requires gentle dusting with a soft, dry cloth to remove surface particles without scratching the hide. Conditioning balms help maintain suppleness and prevent cracking over time. Avoid harsh chemical detergents and keep the leather away from direct heat sources and strong sunlight, which cause drying and fading.

What woods were used for Georgian chairs?

Mahogany and walnut dominate the finer framing of this period, prized for their strength and suitability for carved details like cabriole legs. Oak also appears, particularly in earlier or more utilitarian seating forms. Makers selected these hardwoods to ensure the frame could withstand the structural tension applied by tight upholstery and daily use.

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Georgian Wing Armchair

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A georgian wing armchair provides high-backed protection from draughts, and you are most likely to encounter period examples alongside later revival pieces.