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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Walnut High Back Armchair
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Georgian Style Mahogany Chair Back Sofa
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19th Century Antique Dutch Mahogany Marquetry Arm / Desk Chair
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An Impressive Italian Carved Walnut Hall Bench
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Antique Carved Walnut Ladies Chair
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Unusual Antique Chinese Armchair
Super Set Eight Kitchen Farmhouse Chairs
Pair of shell backed hall chairs
Antique Georgian Mahogany Side Chairs Pair English
Antique Pair Carved Giltwood Stools Upholstered Footstools French Style
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Corner Chairs Set of 4 Occasional Salon Chairs
Arts and Crafts Desk Chair Restored Office Chair in Oak
Super Leather Office Desk Chair
Art Deco Sycamore Dressing Table Stool
Antique Victorian Mahogany Balloon Back Dining Chairs, Set of 6
Antique Quality Edwardian Mahogany Bergère Style Wing Armchair
Antique Georgian Elm Child’s Windsor Armchair
Antique Victorian Mahogany Piano Stool with Green Floral Upholstery
Pair French Gilt Stools
Antique French Giltwood Bergère Armchairs Set of 4 Louis XVI Style Salon Chairs
Antique Victorian Carved Walnut 11 Piece Salon/Drawing Room Suite with Sofa, Armchairs, Side Chairs and Footstools
Super Pair French Bergere Armchairs
Victorian Walnut Upholstered Salon Chair
Victorian Rosewood Upholstered High Back Chair
Pair of French Carved Walnut Armchairs
Pair of French Carved Walnut Armchairs
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.