Tufted Back Armchair Pair
A tufted back armchair pair brings together deep upholstery and matching seating for any room.
Tufted Back Armchair Pair
A tufted back armchair pair encompasses matched seating options designed for comfort and presence in a room. Buyers searching this phrase encounter forms ranging from low bedroom chairs to substantial library armchairs and Chesterfield wing chairs.
The selections span the nineteenth century through the nineteen thirties, with Victorian and French Napoleon III designs appearing frequently alongside Edwardian and traditional English pieces. Materials run from mahogany, walnut, and oak frames to leather, velvet, and fabric upholstery.
How they were made
Frames rely on sturdy timbers such as mahogany, walnut, oak, and general wood, carved or turned to support the seat. Structural integrity depends on solid joinery within the wooden skeleton.
Upholstery involves deep buttoning and tight securing of leather, velvet, or fabric over supportive interior stuffing, often finished with brass details or exposed wood framing.
His and hers matching leather armchairs ensure nobody ever fights over the comfiest seat by the fireplace.
What varies in quality
The distinction between tiers rests upon the choice of timber and the execution of the carving, with finely figured walnut or mahogany frames showing superior hand-worked detail compared to simpler woods. Maker attribution also elevates certain pieces significantly.
The standard of the upholstery work, from precise buttoning to the durability of the leather or velvet covering, dictates the overall refinement of the seating pair.
Howard and Sons·Gillows·A.W.N. Pugin
The Tufted Back Armchair Pair Glossary
- Chesterfield
- A traditional style of upholstered seating characterised by deep button tufting and rolled arms of equal height to the back. These pieces often feature leather upholstery.
- Fauteuil
- An open-armed French armchair with an exposed wooden frame, typically dating from the eighteenth or nineteenth century. The arms generally feature upholstered pads.
- Spoonback
- An upholstered chair back shaped like the bowl of a spoon, popular during the Victorian era to fit the human form. This design often incorporates carved wooden framing.
- Rexine
- A brand of artificial leather made from cloth coated with nitrocellulose, frequently utilised as an upholstery material in the early twentieth century. It offers a durable alternative to natural leather.
- Barley twist
- A type of woodturning resembling a twisted rope, used for the legs and supports of chairs and tables. This decorative turning style is common in Victorian furniture.
Tufted Back Armchair Pair: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tufted back armchair pair?
A tufted back armchair pair consists of two matching seats featuring buttoned upholstery where the fabric is pulled tight and secured with buttons in a geometric pattern.
These pieces range from Victorian library chairs to French armchairs and Chesterfield designs in leather or velvet.
How were these chairs used historically?
Such chairs served primarily in libraries, drawing rooms, and bedrooms as comfortable places for reading and conversation.
Pairs were often placed flanking a fireplace or positioned together to create a symmetrical seating arrangement in formal rooms.
How do I identify a Victorian armchair?
Victorian armchairs typically display robust frames made of walnut or mahogany, often featuring carved details or barley twist supports.
They frequently utilise deep buttoning and dark leather or rich velvet upholstery characteristic of the nineteenth century.
Are these chairs suitable for daily use?
Many of these sturdy nineteenth and early twentieth century chairs remain robust enough for regular seating when the frame and upholstery are sound.
Their substantial wooden construction and deep padding provide enduring comfort for living spaces.