Upholstered Arm & Side Chairs Photos

As the hard seats and sometimes back of early chairs were cushioned for comfort, upholstery fabric became part of the design. This page features arm & side chairs with interesting or typical fabrics.

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An English parlor with card table at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Dining room armchair at Kimberly Crest House. Redlands, CA.Arm chair in red velvet at Fountain & Tallman Museum. Placerville, CA.Armchair with swan neck arms & headrest used by Enoch Pardee in his eye-doctor practice at Pardee Home Museum. Oakland, CA.
An English parlor (c1750) with card table at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.Dining room armchair at Kimberly Crest House. Redlands, CA.Arm chair in red velvet at Fountain & Tallman Museum. Placerville, CA.Armchair with swan neck arms & headrest used by Enoch Pardee in his eye-doctor practice at Pardee Home Museum. Oakland, CA.
Armchair in drawing room of Miramont Castle. Manitou Springs, CO.Arm chairs in Chambers Home at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Colorado Springs, CO.Chair & phonograph at Orchard House at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Colorado Springs, CO.Tea table & chairs at Orchard House at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Colorado Springs, CO.
Armchair in drawing room of Miramont Castle. Manitou Springs, CO.Arm chairs in Chambers Home at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Colorado Springs, CO.Chair & phonograph at Orchard House at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Colorado Springs, CO.Tea table & chairs at Orchard House at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Colorado Springs, CO.
Hall table & armchairs at Rosemount House Museum. Pueblo, CO.Gilded armchair ordered by President James Monroe for Executive Mansion from Pierre-Antoine Bellangé of France in Tennessee period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.President James Monroe's Executive Mansion Armchair , center table & oil lamp in Tennessee period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Armchair ordered by President James Monroe for Executive Mansion from William King Jr. of Georgetown in Tennessee period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Hall table & armchairs at Rosemount House Museum. Pueblo, CO.Gilded armchair (1817) ordered by President James Monroe for Executive Mansion from Pierre-Antoine Bellangé of France in Tennessee period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.President James Monroe's Executive Mansion Armchair (1818), center table (1805-20) & oil lamp in Tennessee period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Armchair (1818) ordered by President James Monroe for Executive Mansion from William King Jr. of Georgetown in Tennessee period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
James Monroe Executive Mansion chair by Pierre-Antoine Bellangé of France at Woodrow Wilson House. Washington, DC.Woodrow Wilson bedroom chair, fireplace, & desk at Woodrow Wilson House. Washington, DC.Writing tables & chair at Balzac House. Paris, France.Louis XV- style armchair from France or Quebec at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
James Monroe Executive Mansion chair by Pierre-Antoine Bellangé of France at Woodrow Wilson House. Washington, DC.Woodrow Wilson bedroom chair, fireplace, & desk at Woodrow Wilson House. Washington, DC.Writing tables & chair at Balzac House. Paris, France.Louis XV- style armchair (c1770-90) from France or Quebec at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Chairs from 1780s in grand bureau at Nissim de Camondo Museum. Paris, France.Walnut armchair & footstool upholstered with 18thC designs at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Table & chairs in Rotunda at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, France.Louis XIV's drawing room with Aubuson tapestries on chairs at Chenonceau Chateau. Chenonceau, France.
Chairs from 1780s in grand bureau at Nissim de Camondo Museum. Paris, France.Walnut armchair & footstool (Regency period) upholstered with 18thC designs at Carnavalet Museum. Paris, France.Table & chairs in Rotunda at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, France.Louis XIV's drawing room with Aubuson tapestries on chairs at Chenonceau Chateau. Chenonceau, France.
Fireplace, armchairs & canopy bed in Cesarof Vendôme's bedroom at Chenonceau Chateau. Chenonceau, France.Cabinet & armchairs before paneling originally from Versailles in new state apartments bedroom at Chambord Chateau. Chambord, France.Strong box flanked by arm chairs in Guard Room at Chaumont-Sur-Loire. France.Tapestry room with Regency armchairs at Cheverny Chateau. Cheverny, France.
Fireplace, armchairs & canopy bed in Cesarof Vendôme's bedroom at Chenonceau Chateau. Chenonceau, France.Cabinet & armchairs before paneling originally from Versailles in new state apartments bedroom at Chambord Chateau. Chambord, France.Strong box flanked by arm chairs in Guard Room at Chaumont-Sur-Loire. France.Tapestry room with Regency armchairs at Cheverny Chateau. Cheverny, France.
Empire armchair from France at Rouen Museum of Fine Arts. Rouen, France.Fireplace & chairs in parlor at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Rolling armchair from Abraham Lincoln's rail car at Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Council Bluffs, IA.Embroidered chair in Apollo Room at Dublin Castle. Dublin, Ireland.
Empire armchair (early 19thC) from France at Rouen Museum of Fine Arts. Rouen, France.Fireplace & chairs in parlor at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Rolling armchair from Abraham Lincoln's rail car at Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Council Bluffs, IA.Embroidered chair in Apollo Room at Dublin Castle. Dublin, Ireland.
Louis XV giltwood armchair with Lyon silk material at Russborough House. Ireland.Chairs in Benjamin Harrison's bedroom at Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. Indianapolis, IN.Counsel room fireplace with armchairs & drop front desk at Grouseland. Vincennes, IN.Federal armchair in parlor of Gardner Pingree House. Salem, MA.
Louis XV giltwood armchair with Lyon silk material at Russborough House. Ireland.Chairs in Benjamin Harrison's bedroom at Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. Indianapolis, IN.Counsel room fireplace with armchairs & drop front desk at Grouseland. Vincennes, IN.Federal armchair in parlor of Gardner Pingree House. Salem, MA.
Parlor of Peirce-Nichols House with concave American mirror with eagle. Salem, MA.Turned chair & footrest in Paneled Room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Round table & armchairs in southeast corner of Long Room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Portraits & armchairs in northeast corner of Long Room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.
Parlor of Peirce-Nichols House with concave American mirror with eagle. Salem, MA.Turned chair & footrest in Paneled Room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Round table & armchairs in southeast corner of Long Room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Portraits & armchairs in northeast corner of Long Room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.
Upholstered armchair attrib. to George Seddon from England at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Parlor in Rockcliff Mansion. Hannibal, MO.Parlor at Vaile Mansion. Independence, MO.Sitting room at John Wornall House Museum. Kansas City, MO.
Upholstered armchair (c1790) attrib. to George Seddon from England at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Parlor in Rockcliff Mansion. Hannibal, MO.Parlor at Vaile Mansion. Independence, MO.Sitting room at John Wornall House Museum. Kansas City, MO.
Armchair in dining room at Campbell House Museum. St. Louis, MO.Armchair used by Louis Napoleon, King of Holland's court in his palace, the Town Hall on Dam Square at Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam, NL.Bent family chair given by Charles Bent to Kit Carson who later returned it to Bent's widow at Governor Bent Museum. Taos, NM.Fillmore's needlepoint armchair at Millard Fillmore House. East Aurora, NY.
Armchair in dining room at Campbell House Museum. St. Louis, MO.Armchair used by Louis Napoleon, King of Holland's court in his palace, the Town Hall on Dam Square at Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam, NL.Bent family chair given by Charles Bent to Kit Carson who later returned it to Bent's widow at Governor Bent Museum. Taos, NM.Fillmore's needlepoint armchair at Millard Fillmore House. East Aurora, NY.
Chairs in library of Buffalo History Museum. Buffalo, NY.President Hayes' chair with red velvet cushion at Hayes Presidential Center. Fremont, OH.Corner stove & armchair Back Parlor of Monroe House at Oberlin Heritage Center. Oberlin, OH.President McKinley's armchair in library at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.
Chairs (1876) in library of Buffalo History Museum (BECHS). Buffalo, NY.President Hayes' chair with red velvet cushion at Hayes Presidential Center. Fremont, OH.Corner stove & armchair Back Parlor of Monroe House at Oberlin Heritage Center. Oberlin, OH.President McKinley's armchair in library at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.
W.H. Taft's Cabinet Chair from when he served a Theodore Roosevelt's Secretary of War & was in charge of building the Panama Canal at Taft House NHS. Cincinnati, OH.Chair with needlepoint cushion said to have been done by Mrs. Taft for their house on McMillan St. at Taft House NHS. Cincinnati, OH.Parlor chair covered for summer protection at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.Chair by Jean Baptiste Lelarge of France featuring Aubusson tapestry of fables of La Fontaine in Music Room at Rough Point. Newport, RI.
W.H. Taft's Cabinet Chair from when he served a Theodore Roosevelt's Secretary of War & was in charge of building the Panama Canal at Taft House NHS. Cincinnati, OH.Chair with needlepoint cushion said to have been done by Mrs. Taft for their house on McMillan St. at Taft House NHS. Cincinnati, OH.Parlor chair covered for summer protection at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.Chair by Jean Baptiste Lelarge of France featuring Aubusson tapestry of fables of La Fontaine (c1780) in Music Room at Rough Point. Newport, RI.
Parlor armchair & LBJ portrait at LBJ Boyhood Home. Johnson City, TX.Seating corner in library at McFaddin-Ward House. Beaumont, TX.Bookcase & tapestry covered armchair at French Legation Museum. Austin, TX.Armchair in library at Drum Castle. Drumoak, Scotland.
Parlor armchair & LBJ portrait at LBJ Boyhood Home. Johnson City, TX.Seating corner in library at McFaddin-Ward House. Beaumont, TX.Bookcase & tapestry covered armchair at French Legation Museum. Austin, TX.Armchair in library at Drum Castle. Drumoak, Scotland.
Armchair & family crest banner in library at Drum Castle. Drumoak, Scotland.Peacock parlour with tripod / trefoil table with arm chairs at Castle Fraser. Aberdeenshire, Scotland.Embroidered armchairs in drawing room at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.Embroidered armchair in drawing room at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.
Armchair & family crest banner in library at Drum Castle. Drumoak, Scotland.Peacock parlour with tripod / trefoil table with arm chairs at Castle Fraser. Aberdeenshire, Scotland.Embroidered armchairs in drawing room at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.Embroidered armchair in drawing room at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.
Armchairs before drawing room fireplace at Falkland Palace. Falkland, Scotland.Floral display & Chinese-style chair in long gallery at Scone Palace. Perth, Scotland.Armchair in Georgian room at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.Writing desk & chair in Library at Newhailes. Musselburgh, Scotland.
Armchairs before drawing room fireplace at Falkland Palace. Falkland, Scotland.Floral display & Chinese-style chair in long gallery at Scone Palace. Perth, Scotland.Armchair in Georgian room (18thC) at Gladstone's Land tenement house. Edinburgh, Scotland.Writing desk & chair in Library at Newhailes. Musselburgh, Scotland.
Needlework chair in Large Library at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.Needlework chair in Large Library at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.Neoclassical armchair by Robert Adam of Scotland & made by workmen of Thomas Chippendale of London at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Square piano by Richard Horsburgh of Edinburgh in drawing room arranged for dancing with chairs against walls at Georgian House museum. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Needlework chair (mid-18thC) in Large Library at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.Needlework chair (mid-18thC) in Large Library at Hopetoun House. Queensferry, Scotland.Neoclassical armchair (1765) by Robert Adam of Scotland & made by workmen of Thomas Chippendale of London at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.Square piano (c1805) by Richard Horsburgh of Edinburgh in drawing room arranged for dancing with chairs against walls at Georgian House museum. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Chairs in North drawing room at Duff House. Banff, Scotland.Heavy drapes & chair in bedroom of Hunter House museum. Norfolk, VA.Drawing room of Ash Lawn-Highland with chairs imported by Monroe's from Paris. Charlotttesville, VA.Collection of American & French chairs owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn. Charlotttesville, VA.
Chairs in North drawing room at Duff House. Banff, Scotland.Heavy drapes & chair in bedroom of Hunter House museum. Norfolk, VA.Drawing room of Ash Lawn-Highland with chairs (c1800) imported by Monroe's from Paris. Charlotttesville, VA.Collection of American & French chairs (early 19thC) owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn. Charlotttesville, VA.
Collection of upholstered chairs owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn. Charlotttesville, VA.Armchairs upholstered with tapestries at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Sculpted armchair by Luigi Frullini of Florence at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Armchair c1912 by Louis Süe & Paul Huillard for Maison Damon et Berteaux of Paris at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.
Collection of upholstered chairs (early 19thC) owned by Elizabeth & James Monroe at Ash Lawn. Charlotttesville, VA.Armchairs (1700s) upholstered with tapestries at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Sculpted armchair (c1875) by Luigi Frullini of Florence at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.Armchair c1912 by Louis Süe & Paul Huillard for Maison Damon et Berteaux of Paris at Museum of Decorative Arts. Paris, France.
Art Nouveau armchair at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Brussels armchair by George Walton & Co. at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. Glasgow, Scotland.Mahogany armchair prob. by George Walton & Co. at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. Glasgow, Scotland.Chair with carved pelican arms in second bedroom of Hunter House museum. Norfolk, VA.
Art Nouveau armchair at Dodge House. Council Bluffs, IA.Brussels armchair (1900) by George Walton & Co. at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. Glasgow, Scotland.Mahogany armchair (c1903) prob. by George Walton & Co. at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. Glasgow, Scotland.Chair with carved pelican arms in second bedroom of Hunter House museum. Norfolk, VA.
Carved pelican arms of chair in Hunter House museum. Norfolk, VA.Ebonized cherry side chair attrib. Herter Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Mahogany side chair attrib. Herts Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Side chair & corner display shelf at Bidwell Mansion house museum. Chico, CA.
Carved pelican arms of chair in Hunter House museum. Norfolk, VA.Ebonized cherry side chair (c1880) attrib. Herter Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Mahogany side chair (c1885-90) attrib. Herts Brothers of New York at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Side chair & corner display shelf at Bidwell Mansion house museum. Chico, CA.
Square grand piano by W.P. Emerson of Boston plus table & chairs at Miramont Castle. Manitou Springs, CO.Chair by Edward William Godwin & made by William Watt of London at Hamburg Decorative Arts Museum. Hamburg, Germany.Chair from gothic room of Countess of Osmond by François-Honoré-Georges Jacob of Paris at Petit Palace Museum. Paris, France.Chair with Chinoiserie, signed Boulard, in Orléans-Penthièvre Salon in Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.
Square grand piano (prior to 1875) by W.P. Emerson of Boston plus table & chairs at Miramont Castle. Manitou Springs, CO.Chair (1870) by Edward William Godwin & made by William Watt of London at Hamburg Decorative Arts Museum. Hamburg, Germany.Chair from gothic room of Countess of Osmond (1817-20) by François-Honoré-Georges Jacob of Paris at Petit Palace Museum. Paris, France.Chair (18thC) with Chinoiserie, signed Boulard, in Orléans-Penthièvre Salon in Royal Lodge at Chateau Royal of Amboise. Amboise, France.
Original chairs from Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home. Augusta, GA.Side chair decorated with Caduceus medical symbol at Emo Court. Ireland.Chair with back in shape of shield at Strokestown Park. Vesnoy, Ireland.Shield back chair from Teddy Roosevelt White House also used during the Eisenhower years at Eisenhower Museum. Abilene, KS.
Original chairs from Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home. Augusta, GA.Side chair decorated with Caduceus medical symbol at Emo Court. Ireland.Chair with back in shape of shield at Strokestown Park. Vesnoy, Ireland.Shield back chair from Teddy Roosevelt White House also used during the Eisenhower years at Eisenhower Museum. Abilene, KS.
Oak & fabric Art Deco living room chair at National Museum of History & Art. Luxembourg, Luxembourg.Table & chairs in guest room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Upholstered side chair from Italy at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Velvet chairs in bedroom of Manship House. Jackson, MS.
Oak & fabric Art Deco living room chair at National Museum of History & Art. Luxembourg, Luxembourg.Table & chairs in guest room at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Upholstered side chair (c1832-5) from Italy at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Velvet chairs in bedroom of Manship House. Jackson, MS.
Daniel Pabst & Frank Furness chair in master bedroom at Roosevelt's House Sagamore Hill NHS. Cove Neck, NY.Carved sidechair & cabinet with porcelain Delftware in Keeper's bedroom at Falkland Palace. Falkland, Scotland.Embroidered bed hangings & chairs in the Lennox room at Scone Palace. Perth, Scotland.Mahogany chairs from Quebec at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
Daniel Pabst & Frank Furness chair in master bedroom at Roosevelt's House Sagamore Hill NHS. Cove Neck, NY.Carved sidechair & cabinet with porcelain Delftware in Keeper's bedroom at Falkland Palace. Falkland, Scotland.Embroidered bed hangings & chairs in the Lennox room at Scone Palace. Perth, Scotland.Mahogany chairs from Quebec (c1790-1835) at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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