Large Upholstered Easy Chair
A large upholstered easy chair offers deep seating and substantial proportions, combining period craftsmanship with enduring comfort for the sitting room.
Large Upholstered Easy Chair
A large upholstered easy chair represents a substantial seating form designed primarily for comfort, frequently appearing in forms such as deep-seated country house armchairs, wing chairs, and club armchairs. These pieces emerge from periods spanning the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries, reflecting changing domestic requirements for relaxation.
The buyer on this page encounters diverse iterations, from mid-Georgian mahogany wing chairs to Victorian buttoned-back models and twentieth-century Bridgewater and club styles. Proportions remain generous throughout, often featuring high backs, scroll arms, or enclosed wings intended to block draughts.
Origins trace through English country house traditions, Victorian drawing rooms, and twentieth-century workshops, demonstrating how makers adapted traditional frames for deeper, softer seating. Each piece balances architectural woodwork with expansive textile surfaces.
Materials and construction
Timber frames form the structural core of these chairs, utilising mahogany, walnut, oak, and general timber for legs, stretchers, and internal supports. Craftsmen shaped these woods to bear the weight of heavy upholstery and frequent use.
Upholstery techniques rely on traditional stuffing materials built over webbing and springs, held in place by hessian and calico before the final decorative fabric is applied. Brass details occasionally appear on castors or decorative nailing, completing the construction.
Large Upholstered Easy Chair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for large upholstered easy chair among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several chairs arrive equipped with deep buttoning and expansive wings, engineered for maximum hibernation during long winters.
Distinctions in quality
The distinction between standard and superior examples lies in the integrity of the underlying timber frame and the sophistication of its proportions. Finer pieces demonstrate careful carving, balanced joinery, and substantial wood selection that supports the voluminous padding without feeling clumsy.
Another measure of quality involves the harmony between the upholstered profile and the exposed woodwork, where master makers and reputable firms achieved a balanced silhouette. The depth of the seating and the responsiveness of the internal stuffing further separate workshop pieces from mass production.
Whytock & Reid·Hamptons and sons·Howard & Sons
The Large Upholstered Easy Chair Glossary
- Wing chair
- A high-backed armchair with side panels designed to shield the sitter from draughts. These pieces typically feature exposed wooden legs and deep padding.
- Club armchair
- A heavily upholstered, low-slung seating form originating in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The style prioritises enveloping comfort and substantial armrests.
- Hessian
- A coarse woven fabric, traditionally made from jute fibres, used as an internal foundation layer beneath outer upholstery. It provides tension and support for the stuffing.
- Calico
- A plain-woven cotton textile employed as an intermediate inner cover over stuffing materials. It creates a smooth barrier before the decorative top fabric is fitted.
- Buttoned back
- An upholstery technique where indentations are pulled tight across the backrest using deep buttons. This method secures the internal padding in a uniform pattern.
Large Upholstered Easy Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a large upholstered easy chair?
These pieces are characterised by generous proportions, deep seats, and extensive padding designed for relaxed sitting rather than formal posture.
They encompass various historical styles, including wing chairs, club chairs, and tub chairs, spanning multiple centuries of cabinet-making.
Where were these armchairs used historically?
They typically occupied libraries, drawing rooms, and country house sitting rooms where comfort and warmth were paramount.
The high wings and deep upholstery were originally intended to retain heat from fires and block cold drafts in large, high-ceilinged rooms.
How do I identify a Georgian wing chair?
Georgian examples often feature solid mahogany frames, stretchers connecting the legs, and characteristic wing profiles that merge smoothly into the armrests.
The carving on the knees or legs, such as ball-and-claw or Marlborough feet, provides further indication of eighteenth-century origin.
What is a club armchair?
A club armchair is a twentieth-century form known for its deep, enveloping seat and low profile, built for maximum domestic comfort.
These pieces often display a more relaxed silhouette compared to rigid Victorian parlor seating, anticipating modern lounge furniture.
How do I care for antique upholstery?
Maintenance involves gentle vacuuming with a soft brush attachment to remove dust from crevices and folds without damaging the fabric.
Keeping the piece away from direct sunlight preserves the strength of both the textile covers and the underlying timber frame.