Antique Chairs

Periods

Pre-1700s

Chairs were a very distinct status symbol during most of European history. Chairs with backs were reserved solely for the elite through the late Renaissance; as most people sat on stools or benches. Because they were such a luxury item, makers lavished work on these, and so early antique chairs show a good deal of elaborate carving on the backs, sides, and feet. It wasn't until the mid 1600s that chairs with backs were widely available due to the introduction of canework (woven cane) for both the backs and seats. Armchairs made their first appearance during the late 16th century and most of the 17th century; they too were reserved only for the highest levels of the aristocracy. At the French court, for example, only princes and the reigning monarchs were allowed to sit in armchairs.

Most of this furniture has a very heavy, substantial feel to it, befitting its social status. The designs are somewhat boxy and the arms tend to come right out to the end of the seat, in contrast to most of today's chairs where it ends an inch or two before.

Early carved wooden chairs like these tend to cost in the four- and five-figure range. If you like the look but don't have the budget, consider Victorian-era imitations. The carving is rarely as elaborate or masterly, but they are a much more affordable (usually in the hundreds or low thousands for the very finest examples) way to possess this kind of antique chair.

Queen Anne Style

Queen Anne style is defined as beginning with her reign in 1702, but lasting past her 1714 death until about the middle of the century. These antique chairs are typically slender, with graceful, curved lines, and much less carving. Where there is carving, it tends to echo classical forms, such as scrolls or Greek elements. Some, but not all, had the upholstery built into the chair design, rather than relying on cushions. Walnut was the most popular wood during this time. Wing chairs, upholstered chairs designed for relaxation rather than work and with wings designed to protect the sitter from drafts, first became popular during this period.

Chippendale

Thomas Chippendale was perhaps the most famous furniture designer of all time. His fusion style, combining baroque, rococo, and Asian elements, was an international hit and his design book, Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, is still used in design schools today. This style lasted from about 1750 through the 1830s.

His designs further simplified chair frames, except for open-back chairs, which featured very elegant and light frameworks, such as the famous lyre pattern. The legs ended either in basic geometric shapes or in the form of an animal's paw. Sometimes the carving featured shapes from Chinese design, such as pagodas.

Depending on quality, these antique chairs typically begin around $1,500 and up to the high five figures for work by Chippendale, his son, or his workshops.

Victorian Period

Victorian antique chairs, like the rest of Victorian furniture, are typically massive and elaborate and incorporate various fashionable historic or international flavors. Upholstery was more common than not, usually in the rich reds the Victorians favored, but also in needlepoint. Gothic-style chairs brought back carving, particularly fruits, flowers, and mythical beasts, while other pieces retained the simpler Queen Anne or Chippendale curving forms. Many of these chairs feature rounded seats, better to accommodate women’s hoops and bustles.

Prices range according to materials, quality, and condition, but individual pieces are available for around $150.

Early 20th Century

The Arts and Crafts style re-introduced bare wood and architectural shapes. Frank Lloyd Wright even designed the chairs to best suit his houses, with their emphasis on simplicity. Le Corbusier's art deco designs were another furniture revolution, emphasizing chairs that followed the shapes of the human body and using steel, chrome, and black leather.

For early 20th century antique chairs, like most vintage furniture, the designer is a primary determiner of price, as well as condition and quality.

Purchasing Antique Chairs

Single chairs are by far the most affordable, while pairs or dining sets command premium prices because sets where each piece is in good condition are rarer. Handmade pieces, naturally, are also more expensive.

The older the antique chair, the more signs of wear, or patina, it should display. If the wood looks uniform on the entire piece, it is likely a reproduction. Ask whether upholstery is the original or a replacement. If it is a recent replacement, that lowers the value.