Restored Armchair
A restored antique armchair brings a century of solid timber, supple leather and tailored support directly into a modern room.
Restored Armchair
A restored antique armchair spans several centuries of design, ranging from early Georgian winged forms to later Victorian library seating and Art Deco club chairs. When you search for a restored antique armchair, you encounter robust frames built from mahogany, walnut and hardwood, often updated with fresh leather, velvet, cotton or hessian upholstery during the restoration process.
The selection includes open armchairs, substantial wingbacks, reclining library chairs and matching lounge suites. Many pieces feature traditional details such as carved wood, brass accents and ebonised legs that mark their original period.
Victorian and nineteenth-century examples dominate the available forms, alongside earlier Georgian iterations and twentieth-century Art Deco club chairs. Each piece balances historical construction with renewed structural integrity and refreshed coverings.
Materials and construction methods
Makers built these frames using dense timbers like mahogany, walnut and general hardwood, joined with traditional carpentry methods to ensure longevity. Upholstered sections rely on sturdy internal webbing, hessian and stuffing beneath top layers of brown leather, cotton or velvet.
Decorative elements involve hand carving on wooden elements, brass hardware for adjustable or metamorphic mechanisms, and ebonised finishes on legs. Restoration work typically preserves the timber frame while renewing the upholstery and padding to modern standards of comfort.
Periods represented span from 1700 through Georgian, William IV, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras.
Factors of quality and craft
Quality rests upon the integrity of the original timber frame and the skill applied during restoration. Superior pieces retain crisp hand carving on the wood and use high-grade leather or fabric that respects the historical character of the chair.
The sophistication of the mechanism also distinguishes different examples, from simple open armchairs to complex metamorphic library chairs and fully adjustable recliners. Finer specimens display careful attention to period-appropriate finishing, such as hand-dyed leathers and traditional hand-stitching.
Miles & Edward's·William Morris·Howard & Son's·Gillows
The Restored Armchair Glossary
- Wingback armchair
- A seat with side panels designed to shield the user from draughts and retain heat from a fireplace. Early versions often date to the Georgian and Victorian periods.
- Metamorphic armchair
- A piece of furniture designed to transform into another form, such as a recliner or a chair incorporating a writing slope. These utilise clever internal brass and wood mechanisms.
- Ebonised legs
- Wooden supports stained or painted black to imitate ebony. This technique appeared frequently on nineteenth-century seating.
- Hessian
- A coarse woven fabric, typically made from jute fibres, used internally as a foundation for upholstery and stuffing. It provides structural support beneath the visible leather or cloth.
- Chesterfield armchair
- A deep-buttoned, upholstered seat typically finished in brown leather with scrolled arms. These pieces often feature substantial padding and brass detailing.
Restored Armchair: Frequently Asked Questions
What periods do these armchairs come from?
The listings include pieces from the early eighteenth century up through the Georgian and Victorian eras into the Art Deco period of the twentieth century.
Each era brings distinct proportions and stylistic details, from carved wooden wings to streamlined leather club chairs.
How do I care for a leather armchair?
Keep leather upholstered chairs away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent the material from drying out over time.
Regular dusting and occasional conditioning will maintain the suppleness of the hand-dyed finish.
Are these chairs comfortable for daily use?
Restoration work specifically renews the internal webbing, hessian and padding to ensure modern levels of support.
Many examples were originally built for libraries, smoking rooms or studies, designed for extended periods of sitting.