Traditional Corner Armchair
A traditional corner armchair fits neatly into domestic angles, offering a sturdy elbow seat shaped from oak, mahogany, or walnut.
Traditional Corner Armchair
A traditional corner armchair is designed specifically to fit into the ninety-degree junction of a room, providing a supportive elbow seat without obstructing walkways. These seating forms span multiple eras, appearing in records from the Georgian and Victorian periods alongside Edwardian interpretations.
The varieties on this page range from heavy oak turners chairs with rush or wooden seats to refined mahogany and walnut examples featuring marquetry inlay or leather squab cushions. Buyers encounter both utilitarian country pieces and more decorative urban iterations built across the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
How they were made
Joiners and cabinetmakers utilised dense hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, walnut, and elm to construct the intersecting frames, often employing turned spindles, bobbin turnings, or carved details. Seats were finished with rush, solid wood, or upholstered inserts in leather and fabric.
Inlaid versions incorporated satinwood and marquetry motifs into mahogany structures, whilst vernacular pieces relied upon pegged joints and robust turned framing to withstand daily domestic use.
Traditional Corner Armchair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for traditional corner armchair 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.
Turners chairs are sometimes called old Saxon chairs by past makers.
What varies in quality
The distinction between ordinary and exceptional examples rests upon the choice of timber and the crispness of the turnings or carved decoration. Superior pieces display carefully selected grains, tight joinery, and harmonious proportions suited to their architectural function.
Refined detailing such as marquetry inlay, intact original rush work, or high-grade leather upholstery elevates certain chairs above standard utilitarian variants.
The Traditional Corner Armchair Glossary
- Turners chair
- A heavy framed seat constructed with numerous turned spindles, sometimes associated with vernacular or revival styles. These pieces utilise traditional woodworking joints.
- Squab seat
- A loose cushion placed upon the wooden base of a chair for added comfort. This pad is often upholstered in leather or fabric.
- Marquetry
- Decorative inlay work using various woods to create intricate patterns on surfaces. Cabinetmakers apply this technique to embellish mahogany panels.
- Rush seat
- A woven seating surface made from dried marsh grasses. This traditional method provides a durable and textured base for country chairs.
Traditional Corner Armchair: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a Georgian corner chair?
Georgian examples typically feature mahogany or oak construction with restrained carving and characteristic horseshoe shaped armrests.
Look for sturdy cabriole or square legs that indicate eighteenth century craftsmanship.
What is a turners chair?
A turners chair is an early form constructed almost entirely from shaped and turned wooden spindles.
These pieces project a heavy, rustic appearance rooted in vernacular woodworking traditions.
Are these chairs comfortable for daily use?
Many examples include squab cushions, upholstered pads, or shaped elbow rests designed to support sitting.
Solid wood and rush versions offer firm support suited to occasional reading or writing tasks.