Turn of Century Armchairs
Turn of century armchairs span robust country Windsors and library seating, offering comfort and enduring design for daily use.
Turn of Century Armchairs
Turn of century armchairs encompass a wide variety of seating forms originating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including library chairs, tub chairs, and Windsor chairs. Buyers seeking these pieces encounter robust country seating alongside refined mahogany library armchairs upholstered in leather or fabric.
How they were made
Maker's workshops utilised traditional timber framing methods, combining hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, walnut, and rosewood with regional timbers like ash, elm, beech, and birch. Windsor and turner's chairs relied on spindle-turning and steam-bending techniques to shape components securely.
Upholstered variants incorporated calico, fabric, or leather stretched over supportive padding, often finished with button backs or decorative trim. Timber surfaces received polish or maintained original finishes that highlighted the natural grain of the wood.
Listings feature mahogany, oak, elm, ash, and walnut timbers across Victorian and Regency periods.
What varies in quality
The standard of timber selection and joinery integrity distinguishes finer examples, where dense grains and solid framing ensure lasting stability. Original surface patination and preserved finishes significantly elevate a piece above altered or heavily restored alternatives.
Proportion and decorative detail, such as fine turnings, stamped maker marks, or sophisticated upholstery execution, separate standard utility seating from high-end cabinet maker production.
Howard and Sons·Morris & Co·Gillows
The Turn of Century Armchairs Glossary
- Windsor chair
- A wooden chair built with a solid saddle-shaped seat into which the back and legs are dowelled directly. These traditional items often feature steam-bent bowed backs and spindle arrangements.
- Smokers bow
- A sturdy low-backed Windsor variant, also known as a captain's chair, commonly found in commercial and domestic settings. They typically incorporate turned spindles and a rounded arm rail.
- Tub armchair
- An upholstered seat with a continuous curved back and armrest forming a protective enclosed shape. Such library and desk chairs often feature leather panels.
- Turned chair
- A seating form constructed entirely from decoratively turned wooden members and spindles, referencing seventeenth-century styles. Examples frequently employ bobbin or spool turnings.
- Corner chair
- A square-seated chair designed to fit into room angles, featuring a diagonal orientation with a continuous back rail supported on turned posts.
Turn of Century Armchairs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smokers bow armchair?
A smokers bow is a sturdy, low-backed wooden Windsor chair featuring a continuous curved arm rail and turned spindles.
These pieces were widely used in domestic parlours and commercial spaces during the nineteenth century.
How do I identify a Windsor chair?
Windsor chairs are defined by a solid wooden seat plank into which the legs and back spindles are tenoned directly.
They frequently combine different timbers, such as ash for the bent parts and elm for the scooped seat.
Where were library armchairs used?
Library armchairs were placed in studies, libraries, and formal drawing rooms of country houses.
They were designed for prolonged reading and writing, often incorporating leather upholstery and mahogany frames.
What is a turner's chair?
A turner's chair is built using intricately turned wooden posts and spindles rather than flat panels or simple legs.
This form echoes seventeenth-century construction methods revived by Victorian craftsmen.