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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A Yew Tree & Elm Armchair
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Unusual Antique Victoria Carved Mahogany Armchair
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Antique Quality Victorian Walnut Piano Stool
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Art Deco Cloud Suite Attributed To Epstein
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Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Carved Walnut Side Chairs
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Antique Pair of Carved Walnut Desk Armchairs
A Deep Buttoned Chestnut Brown Barrel Back Wing Chair
A 18Th Century Style Walnut & Leather Arm Chair
Victorian Ebonised Chinoiserie Chair
Pair of Victorian Walnut Nursing Chairs
Antique English Regency Pair Rosewood Side Chairs
Art Deco Satinwood Chair
Antique Regency Mahogany & Caned Library Bergère Armchair
Super Victorian Conversation Sofa
An Excellent Mahogany Jas Shoolbred Bench
Antique Pair Of French Giltwood Bergere Armchairs
Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Inlaid Side Chairs
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Stool
Pair of Antique Victorian Quality Carved Walnut Side Chairs
Fine Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Carved Arm/Desk Chair
Antique George III Carved Mahogany Elbow/Desk Chair
Outstanding Antique Victorian Carved Mahogany Sofa
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Armchair
A William IV Button Leather Reclining Chair
An Oak And Brass Mounted Hall Bench By James Shoolbred & Co.
Antique Pair Of Regency Rosewood Side Chairs
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.