English Chairs

Welcome to the wonderfully wobbly world of English Chairs, where the seat of power lies not in government, but in the exquisite craftsmanship of wood, upholstery, and some decidedly questionable design choices from history’s most daring furniture-makers. Published in the good ol’ year of 1950 by the HMSO, this radiant tome from the esteemed Victoria and Albert Museum isn’t merely a book; it’s an invitation to sit down—quite literally, if you so choose—and ponder your place in the great tapestry of British seating arrangements.

Why, you might ask, would anyone wish to spend their limited hours on Earth contemplating chairs? Ah, dear reader, this is not just any collection of chairs; it is a deep dive into the eccentricities of English social strata, as told through the medium of things to sit on. From the regal to the ridiculous, the book takes the reader on a journey through time, exploring how a chair can be a throne, a refuge, or even a decorative warzone in the never-ending battle of interior design.

Within the pages of this book, you will discover a veritable smorgasbord of chair styles that would make even the most discerning of living room connoisseurs gasp in horror or delight. The authors (or rather, curators of glorious upholstery) have painstakingly categorized chairs in a manner that is both informative and bizarrely entertaining. Is that a Victorian balloon-back chair you see there? Or perhaps a Jacobean turned leg? Do sit down, grab a biscuit, and prepare to be charmed—or perplexed—by the history of each chair’s birth and, most importantly, its social implications.

As you flip through the pages, expect to encounter tales of:

• The scandalous affair of the Windsor chair and its relationship with the common folk
• The tragic demise of the Chesterfield under the weight of a thousand unfulfilled tea-time promises
• How the Regency style gave rise to a generation of overly fussy parlors
• The unlikely rise of the bean bag chair as the ultimate anti-establishment seating arrangement
• The mournful saga of the rocking chair, forever caught between relaxation and responsibility

But wait! There’s more! Each chair featured in this authoritative guide comes with its own anecdotes, which somehow manage to be both enlightening and utterly ridiculous. Who knew that a simple armchair could hold the key to understanding the post-war psyche of a nation? Or that the humble stool might just represent the very essence of English stubbornness? Only the authors of this magnificent tome could connect such dots, even if some of those dots are a bit… wonky.

Condition: Used. Ah yes, the condition of this particular treasure is something to behold. Expect the pages to possess just the right amount of foxing, as if they’ve been lovingly handled by a thousand curious hands. The spine may be slightly cracked, reminiscent of a chair that has seen far too many gatherings of raucous relatives during the holidays. It has that delightful scent of aged paper, a bouquet best described as ‘vintage library’ with a hint of ‘previously owned by someone who might have spilled tea on it.’

In conclusion, English Chairs is not just a book; it’s a quirky yet profound exploration of the furniture that has shaped British culture in ways you never knew were possible. So, if you’re in the market for an intellectually stimulating read that might just make you reconsider your choice of seating arrangements, this book is for you. Grab your copy today, just be sure to take a seat first—after all, you wouldn’t want to read about chairs while standing, would you? Only at Crappy Old Books can you find this delightful relic that awaits a new home, possibly with a new chair to sit upon while reading it.

Keep browsing: See more History books Other books by Victoria and Albert Museum