Howard Upholstered Arm Chair
A howard upholstered arm chair brings deep-seated English country house comfort to a room through generous proportions and sprung upholstery.
Howard Upholstered Arm Chair
A howard upholstered arm chair is a deep-seated seating form defined by low arms, sprung backs, and generous proportions designed for relaxation. The pieces on this page span the 19th century, Victorian, Edwardian, and early 20th century periods, alongside later interpretations built in the same idiom.
Most examples meet the eye as low lounge chairs, club chairs, or library chairs designed for English country house interiors. Makers such as Howard and Sons set a benchmark for comfort that other workshops and later makers subsequently copied or adapted.
How they were made
Frames utilise hardwoods like mahogany, walnut, and oak to provide a rigid internal skeleton for complex upholstery systems. Exposed woodwork often appears on legs, which frequently feature brass castors.
Upholstery construction relies on traditional materials including calico, ticking fabric, velvet, leather, and kilim, supported by internal springs. Early or original examples often retain their original ticking underneath newer top covers.
Some chairs retain their original striped mattress ticking beneath decades of velvet, proving that great comfort starts on the inside.
What varies in quality
Quality separates genuine maker-stamped pieces from later Howard style interpretations and generic Victorian or Edwardian equivalents. Maker attribution and the presence of original upholstery materials dictate collector interest.
Proportion, seat depth, and structural integrity govern how well a piece sits and ages. Finer examples retain balanced curves, supportive internal springs, and high-grade secondary woods.
Howard and Sons·Trollope and Sons
The Howard Upholstered Arm Chair Glossary
- Howard and Sons
- A notable 19th-century London upholstery firm known for patented comfort designs and stamped maker marks. Their workshop set the standard for deep-sprung lounge seating.
- Bridgewater armchair
- A specific comfortable armchair model with low, rolled arms and generous seating depth. This form remains closely associated with English country house comfort.
- Grafton armchair
- A distinct armchair model type produced by Howard and Sons, characterised by specific proportions and arm shapes. Examples often feature low frames and turned wooden legs.
- Ticking fabric
- A tightly woven, durable cotton material traditionally used as the foundational inner cover for sprung upholstery. Original ticking adds authenticity to period pieces.
- Club armchair
- A bulky, deep-seated upholstered chair designed for heavy daily use in studies or libraries. These pieces prioritise ergonomic comfort over delicate carved decoration.
Howard Upholstered Arm Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a genuine Howard chair?
Look for maker stamps on the legs, castors, or frame webbing, alongside traditional structural traits like low rolled arms and deep springing. Many period pieces carry paper labels or brand signatures unique to the Berners Street firm.
Compositions built in the style of the maker without stamps remain common and reflect the widespread influence of the firm's ergonomic designs across the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Are original upholstery fabrics important?
Original ticking or calico covers hold significant value for collectors because they confirm authenticity and untouched condition. Surviving stamped webbing beneath the fabric adds further weight to an attribution.
Many pieces, however, have undergone reupholstery in velvet, leather, or kilim to suit modern domestic interiors while retaining their antique frames.
How do I care for an antique upholstered chair?
Protect the fabric from direct sunlight to prevent fading, and vacuum the upholstery gently using a soft brush attachment. Period textiles and delicate antique velvets require specialist cleaning.
Inspect the castors and wooden legs periodically to ensure they remain stable, and avoid dragging the chair across hard floors to protect the frame joints.