Antique rawhide chairs

Once upon a time chairs were reserved for nobility; it was the influential and wealthy that sat upon them. Kings and Lords and those highly regarded in the Church were awarded the privilege, whilst those of a lesser class sat on benches and stools. Originally antique chairs were beautifully crafted out of wood, durable and strong, they lasted a lifetime and beyond. Chairs have been in existence since records began. In 600BC, the Greeks were making square seats with a bar back, embellished with sphinxes. Ancient Egyptians used carved wood, ebony and ivory to make their chairs, while the Romans fashioned their chairs from marble. Chair-making during the Ming Dynasty in China (1368-1644) was characterised by masterful joinery, with single pieces of wood being carved to avoid seams.

In Europe around the same time, Renaissance craftsmen made chairs with large, accommodating arms and seats to suit the billowing fashions of the day. Until the mid 17th century, timber was used (chairs made from the mighty oak have survived longest). When covering became the norm, leather, then velvet and silk were used, and the chair evolved into a small throne. French designs began to have a major influence on chairmakers in England and squat, heavy chairs gave way to more elegant designs, with taller backs. It was after the Renaissance that chairs increased in popularity and became commonplace in most households. During the mid 19th Century, alongside the industrial revolution, chairs became mass-produced in factories. There is a vast array of antique chairs to choose from, which include Corner chairs, Morris chair and Windsor chairs. Antique chairs such as Sheraton, Chippendale and Hepplewhite chairs are highly coveted.