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The Ever-Evolving Chair
Historically, the formal chair as we recognize it consisted of four legs, seat and may have included arms. Chairs often designated status among various cultures. The more ornate the design, the more important the stature of the person for whom it was designed would be. Historically, a king or queen would be provided with a highly decorative chair, often with cushioned seats and elongated “armrests” for ultimate comfort. A King’s chair might include a royal Coat of Arms. Whereas, in more primitive cultures, the chair might be adorned with relics of successful battles, exotic feathers or animal hides.
Notable Chair Designs
Various cultures, such as British, French, Italian and Scandinavian, have all contributed their influence to chair designs. Before the 16th century, commoners rarely used chairs as a regular part of their furnishings. Queen Anne chairs are distinguishable by their graceful, curved legs and are often designed with plush tufted cushions, emphasizing a more feminine style of that period. Windsor chairs are designed with a more masculine appeal, often with two “wings” at either side. Italian Renaissance chairs tend to be very ornate with fluid designs carved into the wood and often have a “weighty” appearance. Dutch transition chairs employ both open simplicity with a minimum of carved designs and yet have an airy look. Scandinavian chairs are steeped in functionality, rather than for decorative purposes. Clean lines and durability mark the design of most of Scandinavia’s chair styles.
New Designs of the 19th Century
In the 19th century, other chair designs emerged that identified designers’ signature styles easily. Quaker chairs are designed with ultra-simplicity. Most have a “ladder back” design, caned seats and many are constructed without armrests. Later in the century, wild abandon replaced traditional chair design with contemporary chairs in eclectic shapes and sizes.