Vintage Tub Chairs
These vintage tub chairs offer deep, rounded backs and sturdy frames, bringing practical comfort and classic character to any room.
Vintage Tub Chairs
Vintage tub chairs are deep, enclosed armchairs designed to wrap around the sitter for warmth and support, appearing across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in forms such as library armchairs, desk chairs, and occasional seating.
Buyers seeking vintage tub chairs will frequently encounter examples from the Edwardian period and the nineteen-thirties, alongside Victorian and Regency pieces built from solid woods like mahogany, oak, and walnut.
The selection ranges from upholstered leather club chairs and barrel-backed seats to caned frames in beech and elm, reflecting diverse origins from English workshops to French salons.
How they were made
Frames rely on sturdy timbers such as mahogany, oak, beech, elm, and walnut, often shaped with curved wooden backs that give the chair its defining rounded profile.
Upholstery techniques combine traditional stuffing with leather or fabric coverings, while other variations incorporate woven cane panels and brass detailing for structural support and decoration.
One particularly charming Edwardian barrel-back survivor simply arrives described by its finder as very cute.
What varies in quality
The distinction between tiers rests upon the choice of timber and the integrity of the curved frame construction, where tightly joined solid woods outlast simpler assemblies.
Quality also shows in the handling of materials, from supple, well-preserved leather and crisp cane-work to the retention of original paint or polish on the wooden structure.
Maurice Adams·Hille·Lloyd Loom
The Vintage Tub Chairs Glossary
- Tub chair
- An armchair featuring a continuous curved back and arms that form a deep, enclosing bucket shape. This design provides solid side support and a cosy seat.
- Caned
- A seating method utilising woven rattan or split cane across the back or seat panels. It offers lightweight resilience and visual texture.
- Bergere
- A French upholstered armchair with an enclosed wooden frame and a cane or upholstered back and sides. These pieces often retain original paint finishes.
- Captain's chair
- A sturdy wooden chair with a rounded low back resting on spindles, often utilised at desks or dining tables. They provide durable everyday seating.
Vintage Tub Chairs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tub chair?
A tub chair is a low, rounded armchair with the back and arms formed in a single continuous curve, resembling the shape of a deep tub.
This enclosed design was originally built to keep out draughts in cold rooms, offering a snug and supportive place to sit for long periods.
How do I use a tub chair at home?
These chairs work well as occasional seating in living rooms, bedrooms, or reading corners where space allows for a distinct, curved silhouette.
Leather and wooden variants also function effectively as desk chairs or library armchairs when paired with a suitable table.
How do I tell an Edwardian tub chair apart from a Victorian one?
Victorian pieces tend to use heavier timbers like golden mahogany or walnut with dense upholstery and darker finishes, reflecting mid-nineteenth-century preferences.
Edwardian examples often appear lighter in scale, sometimes combining mahogany frames with cane panels or simpler inlaid decoration.
What materials are common in vintage tub chairs?
The frames are constructed from hardwoods such as mahogany, oak, beech, elm, and walnut, providing a strong structural foundation for daily use.
Coverings range from traditional leather and fabric upholstery to woven cane inserts and occasionally original painted surfaces on French imports.