How do I identify French styles?

French revival models typically display curved cabriole legs, floral carvings and asymmetry inspired by Louis XV and Rococo movements. These characteristics separate continental seating from stricter English Victorian or revival iterations.

What is a bergere chair?

Bergere chairs feature solid wooden frames enclosing upholstered side panels and backrests, occasionally built with woven cane. They offer a deeper, enclosed seating experience compared to open-armed salon models.

Are leather seats period correct?

Leather upholstery appears frequently on library, desk and nineteenth-century English armchairs designed for heavy daily use. It provides durability alongside the softer silk, velvet and tapestry covers found on drawing room seating.

How are nineteenth-century pieces dated?

Dating relies on stylistic markers, timber finishes and structural assembly techniques associated with Victorian and continental workshops. Reference points include the revival styles popular between eighteen-eighty and nineteen-twenty.