Pair Buttoned Armchairs
When you search for pair buttoned armchairs, you enter a traditional seating category defined by deep tufting and matching frames.
Pair Buttoned Armchairs
Pair buttoned armchairs encompass matching seating from the nineteenth century onward, including Victorian library chairs, French Napoleon III designs, and twentieth-century club chairs.
The inventory on this page shows pieces ranging from compact bedroom and nursing chairs to substantial leather Chesterfield club armchairs and Regency library seating.
Makers such as Howard and Sons and Gillows appear alongside French walnut and gilt frames, upholstered in leather, velvet, silk, and rexine.
How they were made
Framing materials rely heavily on solid timber foundations of mahogany, walnut, oak, and rosewood, often featuring carved details, gilt finishes, or brass inlay.
Upholstery techniques involve deep buttoning through leather, velvet, or fabric, securing the interior padding and shaping distinctive curved, spoon, wing, or fishtail backs.
His and hers matching chairs ensure household debates over the most comfortable seat remain peacefully settled.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard commercial production and finer workshops lies in the sculptural ambition of the wooden frame and the precision of the upholstery tufting.
Makers known for exceptional cabinet-making command attention through the harmony of matched pairs, the integrity of native or exotic timbers, and the selection of high-grade leather or silk coverings.
Howard and Sons·Holland and Sons·Gillows
The Pair Buttoned Armchairs Glossary
- Buttoning
- A traditional upholstery technique where tufts are pulled deep into the padding and secured with thread or buttons to create a diamond pattern. This method keeps internal stuffing firmly distributed across the backrest and seat.
- Spoonback
- A chair back shaped like the bowl of a spoon, typically associated with Victorian walnut framing. The concave oval provides ergonomic support while displaying polished wood borders.
- Fauteuil
- An open-framed French armchair featuring upholstered armrests and exposed wooden structure. Originating in courtly interiors, these chairs balance decorative carving with comfortable seating.
- Chesterfield
- A heavy club armchair or settee traditionally finished in deep-buttoned leather. The design prioritises low backs and scrolling arms built for heavy daily use.
- Rexine
- A brand of artificial leather fabric made from cloth coated with nitrocellulose. It emerged as a durable, wipe-clean alternative to genuine leather in twentieth-century seating.
Pair Buttoned Armchairs: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a pair of buttoned armchairs?
These matching chairs feature characteristic tufted upholstery across the backrest or seat, securing the internal padding into a geometric pattern. They appear in forms ranging from compact Victorian nursing chairs to heavy leather club seats.
Matching sets are typically produced together for domestic drawing rooms, libraries, or country house suites, ensuring uniform wood framing and textile selection.
How do I identify a Napoleon III armchair?
French Napoleon III seating from the nineteenth century often showcases elaborate curved backs, spoon shapes, or fishtail profiles. Frames may feature carved walnut, gilding, or painted finishes.
These pieces frequently pair with matching footstools or ottomans and lean towards decorative or boudoir settings rather than heavy library use.
Where should I place library armchairs?
Library armchairs suit studies, reading corners, and living rooms where sturdy timber frames and supportive high backs are beneficial. Leather-upholstered variants handle heavy daily wear particularly well.
Paring a matching set on either side of a fireplace or central table creates a balanced seating arrangement in traditional interiors.
What is the difference between club and wing chairs?
Club armchairs offer deep, low-set seating designed for relaxed lounging, frequently upholstered in durable oxbrown or dark leather. Wing chairs incorporate protective side panels designed to shield occupants from draughts.
Both styles utilise buttoning techniques, but wing chairs generally present a taller, more upright silhouette suited to formal reception spaces.