Pair Upholstered Easy Chairs
These pair upholstered easy chairs offer a matching set of comfortable seating shaped across periods from the nineteenth century to the twentieth.
Pair Upholstered Easy Chairs
Pair upholstered easy chairs provide matched seating options designed for comfort and domestic repose, often taking the form of armchairs, club chairs, and lounge seats. These pieces appear frequently in styles spanning Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods, alongside French Napoleon III and English country house designs.
The selection ranges from scroll back and spoon back configurations to square sided and tub chair silhouettes. Buyers encounter frames built in walnut, mahogany, oak, and satin birch, frequently paired with textile coverings such as velvet, fabric, and leather.
How They Were Made
Frame construction relies upon hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut, oak, and elm, providing structural integrity for the upholstered body. Timber elements often feature exposed grain, parcel gilding, or turned details like barley twist supports.
Upholstery techniques incorporate traditional padding and springs, finished with outer coverings of velvet, leather, crewelwork, or simple ticking. Brass elements appear in detailing and castors, while split cane inserts furnish specific bergere frames.
Some chairs come with a matching stool, ensuring nobody has to argue over where to rest tired feet.
What Varies in Quality
The integrity of the underlying timber frame and the precision of its joinery set the baseline for longevity and craftsmanship. Solid hardwoods and sophisticated carving separate utilitarian framing from finer workshop output.
The execution of the upholstery, from the springing to the selection of fabric or leather, dictates the comfort and visual cohesion of the pair. Matching elements across both chairs preserve the symmetry expected in a matched set.
Whytock & Reid·Howard and Sons
The Pair Upholstered Easy Chairs Glossary
- Bergere
- An enclosed armchair with cane panels set into the wooden frame. This French seating form often incorporates loose seat cushions.
- Spoon back
- An upholstered chair back shaped in an oval contour resembling the bowl of a spoon. Victorian designs frequently utilise this ergonomic curve.
- Club chair
- A deep, heavily upholstered low armchair designed for comfort. Art Deco examples of this form often appear in leather or heavy fabric.
- Fauteuil
- An open-armed French armchair with exposed wooden armrests and upholstered back and seat. Eighteenth-century revival versions appear widely in nineteenth-century production.
- Ticking
- A tightly woven, durable cotton or linen fabric traditionally used to cover mattress and furniture fillings. English country house examples often employ this material for a relaxed finish.
Pair Upholstered Easy Chairs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a Victorian easy chair?
Victorian models frequently display dark hardwood frames in walnut, mahogany, or rosewood, often featuring buttoned back upholstery, spoon backs, or crewelwork detailing. The proportions tend to be substantial and heavy.
Foot styles often include castors or carved wooden supports reflecting nineteenth-century revival tastes.
What defines an Art Deco club chair?
Art Deco club chairs emphasise low, deep seating profiles wrapped in leather or smooth fabric. The silhouettes present rounded or streamlined geometric forms.
These pieces originate predominantly from the 1920s and 1930s, prioritizing straightforward comfort over ornate carving.
Are French Napoleon III chairs comfortable for daily use?
French Napoleon III armchairs provide supportive seating through buttoned upholstery and sprung seats. Their frames are typically built for formal or domestic lounging.
Variations include square backs, fishtail contours, and open oak fauteuil designs.
What is an English country house chair?
English country house easy chairs focus on relaxed comfort, frequently upholstered in practical fabrics like grey ticking or patterned textiles. They often incorporate scroll backs or deep cushioning.
These chairs blend easily into domestic spaces due to their unpretentious domestic utility.