Club chairs are wonderful to sit in when you need big comfort. When one thinks of a club chair, one thinks of large leather chairs with men in dinner jackets in them, with servants in tuxedos serving them brandy. The term club chair originates from the gentlemen's clubs of 19th century England, where the typical big leather chair was popular.
Indeed, a leather club chair is a luxurious experience. They have a unique history, too.
It's Good to Be King
Once, a few centuries ago, if you were not royalty your selection of chairs was plentiful as long as it was wood. Then furniture makers began to add arms, upholstery and lowered the height of the seat. Since there was now a place for to rest one's arms, these became known as arm chairs. High backed chairs will padded back rests came into vogue in the 1700s.
During the Victorian age, the back rest was lowered and deep, soft cushion was added to the seat. This created the type of chair we know today that envelopes you with cushions and comfort all around. Chairs that were upholstered and had arm rests, and soft seat and backrest cushions became known as easy chairs.
Gentlemen Only
In the 1800s, especially from the 1850s on, the fashionable districts in the urban areas of England saw the emergence of "clubs" where gentlemen could remove themselves from the household and enjoy cigars, brandy, and conversation about business, politics and sports. This is where the club chair that we know today came into existence. These black club chairs were made of leather and usually had buttons on the back, and were made to accompany Chesterfield sofas. The classic club chair featured padded upholstery throughout. It has a low back that curves around and slopes down to form the arm rests, and the seat cushion is large and soft.
New styles
During the Bauhaus period of the early 20th century, chairs of this type took on a more square shape. The arm rests, while still being present, were separated from the back cushion. Chairs of this type were very well padded and became known as being "overstuffed."
As time progressed, the shape of club chairs became more rounded, and the arm rests began to feature curves and flares. Today, club chairs can be upholstered in nearly any fabric, but still will have arm rests (usually) and cushioned seats and backrests. Of course, they add an excellent facet to your decor.
