What is a Club Chair?
Club chairs are a popular option in home and office seating that hails from the middle of the 19th century. Designed with a low back and ample seat, the club chair was a feature in high-end gentlemen’s clubs in the United Kingdom. Considered to combine elements of both comfort and masculine style, the club chair gained in popularity through most of the 20th century, and still remains in demand today. When first created for use in exclusive use in men’s clubs during the 1850’s, the idea was to design a chair that was large enough to accommodate the male frame, especially men who were more well-to-do and tended to be somewhat larger than men working in menial positions and careers. The styling avoided elements that leaned toward the feminine, and focused on the use of dark woods and sturdy leather for the upholstery. Simple yet comfortable, club chairs could be quickly rearranged to create a conversation area or settle around a table for a card game. During the 20th century, the club cha
The word “club” in club chair harks back to the gentlemen’s clubs in nineteenth century England where a gentleman could go to get away from his household (including womenfolk). Once there, he would sink into a well-upholstered leather chair and relax with a drink and perhaps a cigar. The names of the fashionable London streets full of such clubs are still used to name classic club chairs : St. James, Piccadilly and so on.
