Leather Armchair

There is a wide variety of antique leather armchair available today, but a lot of things are relatively consistent throughout. In general, an antique leather armchair has leather that does not change color due to the sun, that is very tough and that can withstand the wear and tear of daily use. After all, if it has lasted this long and still looks good, chances are it has a lot more staying power than the contemporary leather armchair. And that is, beyond its aesthetic and cultural value, why most people purchase an antique leather armchair. Now, although there is a multitude of antique leather armchair available, for which this article would carry on far too long to cover, we will at least attempt to summarize just a few popular choices of antique leather armchair that you might consider.

Victorian Leather Armchair

The Victorian period of the United Kingdom was from 1837-1901. The terms Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian are often used to describe any piece of architechture in English speaking countries around those times. Thus, despite the fact that such a period specifically refers to the United Kingdom, the furniture stretches all around the globe to all English speaking parts of the world.

An antique leather armchair of the Victorian Era is perhaps the most popular of all: characterized by its deep buttons, often complex, elegant curves and smooth, durable leather, the right Victorian leather armchair is not only a chair, it is a piece of history within your home. Victorian furniture is generally extravagant, elaborate and grand. Victorian furniture in general is seen as a bargain because the period sometimes imitated the most highly prized Georgian Era (though not as much as the Edwardian period), yet at a fraction of the cost. That’s not to say that there is any lapse in quality, however.

Georgian Leather Armchair

Georgian furniture, from 1720 to 1840, is generally the most highly prized. A simple Georgian piece may often be sold for around five times the price of a comparable Victorian or Edwardian piece. This is definitely something to keep in mind when considering your budget. Georgian furniture is characterized by a certain lightness in structure as well as perfect symmetry. It is no surprise therefore that there are slight influences from the Orient, as well as Europe, in particular Italy. Georgian furniture is very expensive, and it is prudent to consider whether you are an antique collector, or whether you simply want an excellent piece of furniture. If you simply would like the latter, I would personally recommend that you consider a Victorian or Edwardian piece by virtue of the cost alone.

Edwardian Leather Armchair

The relatively short Edwardian Era from 1901-1910, showed a resurgence in Georgian (particularly baroque) influences but was in general a period of light, airy, feminine influence, with bamboo furniture, needlework cushions and light color schemes. In terms of the leather armchair, the wing arm chair was popular as was any reproduction piece. For a relatively short period of time, the Edwardian Era definitely packed a whole set of new styles within a very small space, but many were not applied to the leather armchair therefore Edwardian pieces are generally reproductions of earlier time periods, particularly Georgian, at a mere fraction of the cost. Edwardian pieces may be seen as excellent bargains and if you are not an avid collector but you love antique style, should be your first port of call.