How to identify Antique Chair Styles

Before delving into the antique world, you must first understand the age and style of antique furniture.

Are you organising old family furniture or even on an antique treasure hunt? When you’re identifying the age of an antique chair, in particular, knowing the basics is always the best place to start. Here are some of the best – and easiest – ways to identify antique chairs.

How to identify the age of an antique chair

When learning the age of an antique chair, begin with understanding the different design periods and antique chair types. The chair design gives a general indication of the date, even if you are uncertain straight away. Despite not knowing the date right away, the chair design gives a general idea.

Manufacturers continue to reproduce popular antique chair styles. By identifying the markings, we can determine the age of the chair. As well as distinguish between an antique and a replica.

There are certain features to look out for when determining the age and style of an antique chair. Here are some identifiers listed below.

Common things to look for

There are certain features to look out for when determining the age and style of an antique chair. Here are some identifiers listed below.

Handcrafted or machine-made: Handcrafted pieces make each antique chair unique. The designs of hand-made chairs are authentic so machines cannot replicate them. Machine-made chairs get designed for mass production rather than artistic individuality.

Individual chair markings: Antique chairs are identified through the markings, sometimes including the year. However, these can be difficult to find from wear over time.

How are they made?: The overall chair construction is a good way of identifying the age and validity, including the wood used, asymmetrical and symmetrical design, cotton, and filling substances like feathers and hay.

Identifying materials used: The materials and design often giveaway the period a piece was made. I.e., wood type, seat coverings, and the finish. Some materials are specific for certain periods in time and limited depending on when they began trading.

Style identification: All chair designers will have different styling techniques that help identify an antique chair. Also, the carving style, materials, and finish help indicate the decor style and period. 

Many common antique chair styles are individually unique and help when it comes to identifying an antique chair. 

Main antique chair styles: The Big Three

If you’re a lover of all things antique, then it’s likely you will have heard of the ‘Big Three’. Mr Thomas Chippendale, Mr George Hepplewhite, and Mr Thomas Sheraton.

Chippendale: Named after cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, British Chippendale chairs are part of the Rococo and gothic decor style from 1750 to 1780. American Chippendale takes some influence from the late Queen Anne decor style.

Hepplewhite: The Georgian design style of George Hepplewhite focuses more on wood figuration than carving. The neoclassic style chairs date from 1710 to 1810 and differ from Chippendale and Sheraton. His designs are still copied in furniture today.

Sheraton: Thomas Sheraton was another furniture designer who inspired many 18th century styles and designs from 1790 to 1820. His distinctive neoclassic designs incorporated rectilinear shapes, straight legs, and small carvings.

The antique chair world is rich in history and intriguing work. By using a few of our tips, hopefully, you can identify some antique treasures of your own.

Note: The exquisite English Antique Mahogany Leather Desk Chair By Cornelius V Smith 1890s featured in the image above is also available for sale now.

Browse through our curated range of antiques and antique chairs here