Antique Seating
From stately Georgian wingback armchairs to deep-buttoned Victorian Chesterfields, antique seating offers comfort, craftsmanship and style in equal measure. Our dealers stock armchairs, side chairs, sofas, settees, chaise longues, stools, window seats and benches spanning three centuries of upholstered and non-upholstered designs.
Oak, mahogany, walnut and beech frames, sprung and stuffed seats, hand-stitched leather and needlepoint upholstery: these are pieces built to be sat in and enjoyed for generations.
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Pair of French Rosewood Fauteuils
A lovely pair of late 19th century French rosewood fauteuils, or armchairs. Very well constructed in...
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A Mahogany Gainsborough Chair
A good quality mahogany Gainsborough chair. Raised on molded front and swept back legs all united by...
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Victorian Walnut Canterbury Stool
This Victorian Walnut Canterbury Stool is a true multi functioning piece of furniture. Made in En...
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19th Century Stags Antler Armchair
A rare and unusual stags antler armchair from the mid-Victorian period. Constructed from a pair of d...
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Oak Barley Twist Armchair
A very good oak armchair. Well constructed in solid English oak with barley twist legs and uprights,...
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Victorian Upholstered Walnut Settee
A very good mid Victorian period upholstered settee. Well constructed in solid walnut and embellishe...
Fine 18th Century Irish Mahogany Armchair
A fine and impressive George II Irish Armchair of the most fabulous glowing colour, made from the fi...
A Rare Dated 18th Century Irish Mahogany Desk Chair
A rare and possibly unique 18th century Irish Corner Chair of superb colour with glowing burnished s...
Superb Walnut X Framed Stool
An outstanding Walnut X framed stool with leather seat, carved lion heads holding steel rings with l...
Fine 18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Armchair
A fine and rare quality 18th Century Mahogany Armchair of wonderful rich colour and patina in the ma...
A Pair Of Chinese Qing Dynasty, Hongmu Chairs
A pair of Chinese Qing dynasty, hongmu throne chairs. The shaped top rail with carved and pierced sp...
A Fine Georgian Style Walnut Stool
A fine Georgian style walnut stool. Raised on beautiful carved cabriole legs with claw and ball feet...
A George II Style Mahogany Gainsborough/library Arm Chair
A George II style Mahogany Gainsborough/Library arm chair with the downswept arms with foliate carvi...
19th Century Antique Dutch Mahogany Marquetry Arm / Desk Chair
19th Century antique Dutch mahogany marquetry arm / desk chair having a charming shaped top and shap...
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Antique Quality Victorian Walnut Piano Stool
Antique Victorian walnut piano stool having a circle revolving seat newly reupholstered in a quality...
Antique Carved Walnut Ladies Chair
Antique carved walnut ladies chair having a quality carved walnut shaped top rail with two shaped wa...
Antique Victorian Quality Walnut Stool
Antique Victorian walnut stool having a pretty newly upholstered seat in a quality fabric depicting...
Unusual Antique Victoria Carved Mahogany Armchair
Unusual antique Victorian carved mahogany armchair having the most magnificent carved, pierced mahog...
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Corner Chair
Antique Edwardian inlaid mahogany corner chair having a pretty shaped back with an inlaid shell and...
Victorian Carved Walnut Ladies Chair
Victorian antique carved walnut ladies chair having a beautiful carved detail to the top, shaped bac...
Pair of Mahogany Hepplewhite Style Side Chairs c.1890
These are a pair of 19th Century antique mahogany Hepplewhite style side chairs with shaped top rail...
A French Walnut Arm Chair
A French walnut arm chair on turned and stop fluted legs and with carved moldings and patera which h...
Super Horseshoe Back Office Desk Chair
A super Victorian horseshoe backed office desk chair, in excellent overall condition.
31" high27" w...
Large Antique Victorian Quality Carved Rosewood Stool
Large antique Victorian quality carved rosewood stool having a newly reupholstered seat in a quality...
19th C French Carved And Gilded Sofa
Raised on carved cabroile legs with shaped and carved rails and arms. The sofa is in very original c...
Fine 18th Century Corner Chair
A fine 18th Century Chippendale period Corner Chair of absolutely Superb colour and in good original...
Antique Victorian Quality Yew Wood Broad Arm Windsor Chair
Antique Victorian quality yew wood broad arm Windsor chair having yew wood turned columns and spindl...
Antique Victorian Quality Carved Walnut Armchair
Antique Victorian quality carved walnut armchair having a quality carved walnut shaped back, carved...
Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Side Chairs
Pair of antique Victorian quality mahogany side chairs having a quality mahogany heart shaped back,...
Large Antique Victorian Quality Carved Oak Throne Chair
Large antique Victorian quality carved oak throne chair having a quality carved oak top rail with tw...
Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Carved Ebonised Oak Side Chairs
Pair of antique Victorian quality carved ebonised oak side chairs having quality ebonised oak carved...
Pair of William and Mary Style Walnut Chairs by Waring & Gillow
A very good pair of walnut William and Mary style chairs by Waring and Gillow. Of excellent construc...
A Pair Of Aesthetic Movement Window Seats
In ebonised hard wood, these stylish and interesting window seats are beautifully made and of strong...
A Pair Of 19th Century Gustavian Style Arm Chairs
Beautiful carved with a variety of foliate designs and with original paint finish, the chairs have r...
Pair Of 17th Century Lancashire Chairs
A good pair of 17th Century Lancashire Chairs of generous proportions and of superb colour and condi...
Pair of Victorian Cabriole Leg Stools
A very nice pair of mid-Victorian period stools. The frames in solid rosewood , with over-stuffed up...
William and Mary Walnut Library Chair
William & Mary Revival walnut elbow chair, original deep-button upholstery, outswept arms with scro...
Fine Pair Of 18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Chairs
A fine pair of full period Chippendale Chairs of the most wonderful glowing colour and patina. Havin...
19th Century Mahogany Stool
An extraordinary 19th Century Mahogany stool in the manner of Giles Grendey.
Boldly carved with...
Fine Pair Of Regency Hall Chairs
A beautiful pair of early 19th Century Regency Hall Chairs with superbly carved Scalloped backs and...
Wonderful Walnut Hall Chair
Excellent quality Victorian walnut hallchair, original brass castors, in excellent overall condition...
Rare 17th Century Oak North Country Box Settle
A Magnificent 17th Century English Oak Box Settle probably from Yorkshire or Lancashire of fabulous...
A Near Pair Of 17th Century Ash Turners Chairs
A near pair of rare 17th Century Ash Turners Chairs of wonderful colour with highly burnished surfac...
17th Century Oak Joint Stool
A very good early 17th Century Oak Joint Stool of wonderful colour, in outstanding original conditio...
Yew Wood Windsor Chair
This is one of the best types of yew wood windsor chairs you can get. Every part is yew except the e...
Walnut Open Armchair
Walnut open armchair with cabriole legs . The walnut is a great colour and the chair is reupholstere...
William IV Grand Scale Parcel Gilt Foot Stool
English
circa 1836 - 1846
The 19th century stool is raised on solid carved giltwood cabriole legs...
Fine 19th Century Walnut Stool
A beautiful mid 19th Century Walnut Rococo Stool. Elaborately carved with scrolling foliate to the r...
Antique Victorian Cameo Back Carved Walnut Sofa
Antique Victorian cameo back carved walnut sofa having three cameo backs with quality carvings to t...
Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Carved Elbow Chair
Quality Victorian mahogany carved elbow chair with an elegant shaped and beautifully carved top rail...
Antique Quality Walnut Oval Stool
Antique quality walnut oval stool having a newly reupholstered oval seat in a quality fabric above a...
Superb Quality Antique Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Settee
Superb quality antique Victorian rosewood inlaid settee having a superb quality serpentine shape ros...
Outstanding Quality Pair of Antique Regency Carved Mahogany Hall Chairs
Outstanding quality pair of antique Regency carved mahogany hall chairs having outstanding quality...
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Carved Mahogany Chaise Longue
Outstanding quality antique Victorian carved mahogany chaise longue having an outstanding quality ma...
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Superb Quality Antique Early Victorian Ornate Cast Iron Garden Seat
Superb quality antique early Victorian ornate cast iron garden seat having a cast iron shaped back a...
Unusual Antique Victorian Inlaid Mahogany Armchair
Unusual Victorian inlaid mahogany armchair having a shaped top rail with satinwood inlay and unusual...
Finding the Right Antique Chair
Comfort is entirely personal, so sit in a chair before you buy if you possibly can. A Georgian wing armchair that looks magnificent may not suit someone who is six foot four, while a low Victorian nursing chair might be exactly what a smaller person needs. Seat height, depth and back angle all matter, and antique chairs cover the full range.
Construction is the critical factor in longevity. Check that the frame is solid by lifting the chair slightly and feeling for movement. Loose joints should be professionally re-glued; this is a routine repair and not a reason to avoid a piece. Beech frames are common and perfectly serviceable, though mahogany and walnut are more desirable.
Upholstery Choices
Many antique chairs benefit from re-upholstering. Traditional upholstery using horsehair, calico and webbing gives the most authentic result and lasts longest. Modern foam is quicker and cheaper but doesn't breathe as well and has a different feel. Leather, if original and in good condition, is worth preserving; new leather develops its own patina over time.
The fabric you choose for re-covering transforms the character of a piece. A Georgian camelback sofa looks formal in silk damask and relaxed in linen. A Victorian button-back chair suits both rich velvet and contemporary plain fabrics. Don't feel constrained by period conventions; mix old frames with modern textiles for a look that feels fresh and personal.
Sofas and Larger Pieces
Chesterfield sofas, with their distinctive deep-buttoned leather upholstery, are the most recognised form of antique seating. Genuine Victorian and Edwardian examples have a depth of character that modern reproductions cannot replicate. Drop-arm Knole sofas, Howard-style armchairs and Regency scroll-end sofas are all worth exploring if you're furnishing a sitting room with antiques.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs vary depending on the size of the piece, the type of upholstery (traditional or modern) and the fabric chosen. As a rough guide, a dining chair seat might cost from around fifty pounds, while a full traditional re-upholstery of a sofa could be several thousand. Get quotes from experienced upholsterers who understand antique frames.
A Chesterfield is a deeply upholstered sofa with distinctive button-tufting across the back and arms, which are the same height as the back. The design dates from the mid-18th century and remains one of the most popular forms of seating. Genuine antique Chesterfields were typically covered in leather.
Yes, provided the frame is sound and any loose joints have been repaired. Antique chairs were built from solid hardwood with mortise and tenon joints, making them inherently stronger than most modern alternatives. Have any structural issues addressed by a furniture restorer before heavy use.
A wingback or wing chair has high sides, called wings, that extend from the back of the chair at head height. Originally designed to shield the sitter from draughts in large, cold rooms, they remain one of the most comfortable and visually striking forms of armchair. Georgian and Queen Anne examples are the most sought after.