English chair with ears: history and varieties of Voltaire's chair

A little history

The era of classicism left a significant mark not only in painting, architecture, literature, but also in the art of interior design. In the 18th century, English furniture became a fashionable trend not only among residents of Foggy Albion, but also in European countries.

The forerunner of the favorite chair was a walnut chair with a curved back. Many found it convenient and practical. A little later, leather armchairs earned special recognition, without which it was impossible to imagine the apartments of noble families and wealthy merchants.

Handmade furniture cost a lot of money, and for a long time remained affordable only to wealthy people. The constant rivalry between English and French craftsmen only intensified competition in the furniture market.

Classicism, as a movement in art, is characterized by aristocracy, conservatism, but at the same time grace, harmony of forms and lines. The most valuable exhibits date back to the seventeenth century. It is worth noting that the halls and rooms at that time were heated with wood, and the furniture protected them from cold and drafts. With the development of artistic trends at the beginning of the twentieth century, for example, Art Nouveau, new solutions appeared in the art of interiors and interest in such chairs faded into the background.

In the middle of the last century, the traditions of classicism inspired the European master Arne Jacobsen to create the famous egg chair. The new interior element almost instantly gained incredible popularity and continues to do so to this day. Today, English armchairs are again attracting the attention of buyers around the world.

General adaptation of English fireplace chairs

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Frame

To produce the frame of classic models, wooden blocks and furniture plywood are used. Less often it is replaced with particle boards. Moreover, the design is very complex. What from the side looks like a flat side with an ear in the middle is practically stuffed with bars that strengthen the structure.

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Moreover, they are placed not only along the contour, but also taking into account the diagonal stress. In higher-quality types of chairs, fiberglass composite (egg) or metal tubes (gaming ones) can be used.

Back and seat

The dimensions of the seats in the “eared” models are calculated according to two indicators. Taking into account the useful size and when measuring the overall width and depth. The first parameter is usually no more than 60 cm in two values. The second one is very often close to 90 cm. Also in two values. Height is also calculated according to two criteria.

The seat height above the floor is standard 50 cm, but taking into account the backrest, the value reaches 1.1 or 1.2 meters. For bergers this parameter is slightly lower. Their backrest rarely exceeds the threshold of 70 cm. They also have a low seat height. In most cases, it barely reaches 40 cm. The general indicators of width and depth are smaller for bergeres. Typically, these values ​​are approximately equal to the height of the backrest.

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Upholstery

When choosing materials for upholstery, you can use the entire range of modern and not so modern fabrics. An important condition is that the fabric must be durable, without any stretching effect (stretch will not work). In terms of working properties, they are perfect for:

• Matting;
• Shinil;
• Jacquard;
• Cotton silk;
• Tapestry;
• Microfiber;
• Thick velor;
• Flocks of the latest generations with non-adhesive coating;
• Corduroy or micro-corduroy;
• Nylon or similar fabrics with a high content;
• Acrylic mesh for covering the largest junction areas. Very important for leatherette or real leather;
• Alcantara;
• Ecological leather;
• Real leather of excellent quality (smooth);
• Nubuck (hairy leather).

Soft fabrics with a loose structure (velvet, wool) look very attractive, but wear out quickly. Do not forget. The contact area of ​​contact with the body of a person sitting in English chairs is quite large. This is due to the fact that they are quite narrow.

The decor of the chair plays an equally important role in the interior. There are not many techniques for decoration:

• Upholstery with stitching. Options where the intersections of the diamond-shaped stitch are covered with rounded overlays, covered in matching or contrasting colors, look quite nice. The stitch goes well with thick, dense fabrics, leatherette or real leather. Very soft fleecy upholstery drapes aesthetically, but is more prone to wear and tear of the pile;
• Carved frame. This could be an overlay at the bottom or a shaped back design. The carving goes perfectly with the elegant silhouette of the English chair. The main thing is not to overdo it. The width of the overlay rarely exceeds 7–8 cm;
• Bent carved or turned legs. Another good option. All 4 or only a pair of front legs can be curved. The rear ones remain straight;
• Decorative rollers. They can be folded or equipped with special end decorative overlays decorated with silk tassels.

Even if you have purchased a chair and you don’t want to bother with reupholstering good, but not very decorative, upholstery, then you always have an option. Place an attractive lumbar bolster or a pair of luxurious cushions on the chair. They perfectly match the silhouette of the “eared” chair, will add comfort to you and help give the chair a special design. All advantages.

Base

Legs are constantly used for the base. There are several options:

• Direct. In this case, all 4 supports will be the same height and ideal;
• Inclined. The legs themselves are straight or teardrop-shaped, but are placed at a small angle relative to the frame. They are called stops. In most cases they are slightly thicker than straight ones. Often made from stainless steel;
• Curved. The legs are made chiseled, figured, with a double bend. A small thickening is carved at the end, reminiscent of an animal’s paw. Such legs are always beautiful and thin;
• Combined. The 2 rear legs are straight, and the 2 front legs are curved. This chair looks very unusual, especially from the side;
• Globular. This type is used on bergeres. The leg is short and straight. The end of the leg resembles a truncated small ball;
• Stand. This type of support is typical for artistic chairs (egg and similar ones). There is only one leg in the very center. Ends with a wide round stop;
• Cross. Used for gaming chairs. There is also one main leg, but the emphasis is on a five-pointed cross with paired movable rollers.

There's a place for everything

Considering the origins and history of the English high-back chair, it is difficult to imagine it next to a Russian stove or near a table with an embroidered tablecloth. But a fireplace and a blanket are a suitable company for an aristocratic piece of furniture. That is why such chairs are often called “fireplace” chairs.

The classic interior is dominated by light noble colors, high ceilings, elegant decorative elements, and expensive materials.

Guests will appreciate a high English armchair only in the appropriate setting, which can be complemented by a desk or sofa, similar in style. Well, if your country house has an office, a hall or a fireplace, then there are no problems with the location.

Serious choice

Despite the common name, English chairs can look completely different. This applies to almost all elements of furniture and fittings. The back can be straight or close to anatomical. An alternative to straight and strict armrests is the so-called shaped “ears”, which provide reliable lateral support and comfort. The legs are most often low, straight or curved.

When choosing furniture, you should be especially attentive, not only to the materials, but also to the manufacturer. The chair can be made both in a mass production line and individually upon request. The latter case is preferable, but it will not be cheap.

According to the rules, the frame is made from solid wood of expensive and durable species. This is a guarantee that the chair will please not only you, but also your grandchildren. High-quality textile materials and genuine leather will give you a feeling of comfort and coziness.

Features and characteristics of a fireplace chair with ears

It is not difficult to recognize a fireplace chair. It has a fairly recognizable appearance with characteristic features:

• Lateral support from bottom to headboard. This is what they call the ears;
• Wide selection of shapes. Similar options exist in a number of styles. For example, in Provence. They do not differ very significantly from each other, but still these signs are differences;
• A symbol of comfort and warmth of the hearth. It’s hard to imagine this chair without the accompanying crackling of logs in the fireplace;
• Great variety in external design. Each model is unique in its own way, despite small differences in shape;
• Constant standing on your feet. They themselves may vary in appearance, but they are always the classic 4 supports;
• Very often the sides and ears are one element.

Exceptions to the rules

By looking at the photo of an English chair, you can be convinced that they do exist. Contrary to the traditions of Victorian craftsmen, today furniture is made from a variety of materials. Bold author's experiments allow the use of “flashy” colors and fancy shapes.

Such renovations for the interior require a special approach and are considered exclusively in the setting of a specific room, most often thought out in advance.

The lineup

Let's try to look at some of the most popular models of chairs that customers prefer. Having an idea about them makes it easier to fit them into the interiors of the room.

• “Wing Chair” is a classic high English chair with strict outlines and shapes. It will appeal to adherents of tradition and conservatism. Straight armrests, “wings” and a high back instill a feeling of strength and reliability.
• “Coventry” is more reminiscent of a high chair, but in terms of convenience it is not inferior to an armchair. Ideal for small spaces and will not confine the space with its volume.
• Сhesterfield Нampton is an English chair that echoes the traditions of Baroque Rococo. Rounded shapes, exquisite decor, curved legs are suitable for those who love comfort and an abundance of ornaments.
• "Baltimore" is the embodiment of comfort and convenience in the modern style.
• “Bohemia Coral” – whose wide ears create comfort and separate personal space.
• Brown Suede is a chair for true connoisseurs of chic interiors. Quilted upholstery made of expensive materials and noble colors are reminiscent of furniture from Victorian England.

The dimensions of the furniture may be different, but always remain harmonious. The height is usually more than a meter, including the back. Depth of at least 80 centimeters. Otherwise, the product has nothing to do with the classics. The width of the chair depends on the style of execution, materials, and the size of the “ears”.

There are models up to two meters wide. These are suitable for very large rooms. When choosing a model, you should trust your own feelings. The chair should not restrict movement or, conversely, be overly wide.

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The armchair can be accompanied by a sofa in the same color scheme and style. All this should be taken into account when planning the interior. High demand has generated a lot of offers on the furniture market. English chairs are produced not only in Britain, but also in France, Italy, the USA and Russia.

A wide variety of materials and accessories provide unimaginable scope for imagination. Furniture can be used to furnish an apartment, a country house, a hotel, a study, and sometimes an office. If you are planning to give a similar gift to loved ones, be sure to visit them and evaluate how well the chair will fit into the interior. Otherwise, he will have to gather dust at the dacha.

Types of fireplace chairs

With the shapes of Voltaire's chairs, not everything is so banal. On the one hand there are many of them. But the differences between them are minimal. In addition to modern or artistic chairs. Let's start with the basics:

• Bergere. This is a French version with a semicircular back. A bit like a shell. The sides are made slightly beveled, which only enhances the impression;
• Bergere with a curl. The ears are replaced with a rather unusual rolled edge. The back is slightly shortened and the maximum will reach the middle of the shoulder blades;
• Straight back. This is a traditional landscape style chair. The sides are solid with ears. Placed almost at a right angle to the back or with a slight bevel. They are supplied with armrests that are too narrow;
• Provence. The meaning is the same, but instead of armrests, the chair is equipped with good wide bolsters. The sides are made separately from the wings.

There are also a number of chairs on which the “eared ears” had an impact with the development of a new design:

• Egg or swan. Arne Jacobson created as many as 2 chairs based on the English model. They are all interpreted in an unusual way, but remain recognizable;
• Gaming chairs. Voltaire chairs became so famous for their comfort that the lateral support of gaming chairs became a continuation of the classic ears. It only expanded downwards, receiving a second wing.

The case for the English chair

An English chair is not just an element of the interior. This is a whole philosophy of creating and organizing personal space in accordance with the canons of the Victorian era. Privacy is a completely special legal and social category inherent in the inhabitants of Foggy Albion. It guarantees a person personal space, which no one has the right to violate. You choose those with whom you want to communicate.

There are no analogues to such a legal term in the Russian language. Privacy regulates privacy and complete confidentiality. “My home is my castle” is the life credo of the British, and then the Americans. The fireplace chair is the embodiment of this postulate in the furniture business.

Massive “ears” will hide you from prying eyes and reveal your face only to your interlocutor. Turning to the fireplace, you will be left alone to dream, make plans for life or remember pleasant moments. This way of life is characteristic of the royal family, the monarchical way of life and thinking.

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Purchasing an English chair can be not just a purchase, but a serious step towards re-evaluating your usual life and habits. Furniture purchased today can become a family heirloom for many decades.