Scroll Arm Easy Chair
A scroll arm easy chair offers deep comfort and traditional form, drawing on centuries of upholstery skill to anchor a room.
Scroll Arm Easy Chair
A scroll arm easy chair is an armchair designed for comfort, frequently appearing in nineteenth century, Victorian, Regency, and Edwardian styles. These pieces range from deep-seated club styles to English country house armchairs and gentleman's armchairs with carved wooden frames.
Most examples on this page date from the nineteenth century into the early twentieth century, spanning periods such as William IV, French Empire, and Edwardian. Makers and styles like Howard and Sons, Woodstock, Grafton, and Trollope and Sons recur across the selection.
Buyers will find armchairs upholstered in fabrics such as velvet, calico, hessian, and ivory-toned materials, supported by frames of mahogany, walnut, and rosewood. Forms vary from low club chairs to high wing-back designs with brass details.
Materials and Construction
The underlying frames of these armchairs rely on timbers such as mahogany, walnut, and rosewood, sometimes accented with brass fittings. Wood carvers shaped these hardwoods into sturdy legs, frames, and distinct scroll arms.
Upholstery techniques combined internal stuffing with durable outer layers of fabric, velvet, calico, and hessian. Makers secured the padding to create deep, supportive seats suited for long periods of sitting.
Scroll Arm Easy Chair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for scroll arm 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 armchairs trace their history directly to members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews.
Assessing Quality
The refinement of the wooden frame and the precision of the carved scroll arms set finer pieces apart from standard seating. Superior examples demonstrate careful joinery in woods like walnut and mahogany.
The integrity of the upholstery build, from the choice of velvet, calico, or hessian to the depth of the seating proportions, determines the distinction of each chair.
Howard and Sons·Trollope and Sons·Hampton and Sons
The Scroll Arm Easy Chair Glossary
- Scroll Arm
- An armrest shaped into a curved, rolled scroll profile. This design feature provides both ergonomic support and a decorative aesthetic.
- Club Armchair
- A heavily upholstered, deep-seated armchair designed for comfort. These chairs typically feature low backs and generous proportions.
- Wing Back Armchair
- An armchair with high side panels attached to the back. These wings traditionally blocked drafts and retained heat around the sitter.
- Calico
- A plain-woven textile often used as a base upholstery layer. It frequently serves as the inner covering beneath decorative top fabrics.
Scroll Arm Easy Chair: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a scroll arm easy chair?
A scroll arm easy chair is characterised by its distinctive rolled armrests and deep upholstery designed for comfort. These seating pieces emerged in various nineteenth and early twentieth century styles.
Examples on this page span vernacular English country house designs to specific maker attributions. Their generous proportions make them practical for daily seating.
How do I identify a Victorian armchair?
Victorian armchairs often display robust wooden frames in mahogany or walnut with distinct scroll arms. The upholstery and framing reflect the craftsmanship of the mid to late nineteenth century.
Details such as carved woodwork and specific period proportions help separate these pieces from later Edwardian reproductions.
Where were club armchairs used?
Club armchairs traditionally served as comfortable seating in libraries, studies, and drawing rooms. Their deep seats were built for relaxation in formal domestic interiors.
Today, these chairs function well as reading seats or statement pieces in living spaces.
What is an English country house armchair?
An English country house armchair is a generously proportioned seat built for comfort rather than strict formality. These chairs often feature deep upholstery covered in durable fabrics like calico, hessian, or velvet.
They carry an unpretentious aesthetic suited to relaxed, lived-in interiors.