Art Deco Chairs & Sofas
After WW1 many people were able to afford upholstered/sprung seating for the first time and comfort was the key. Better quality Art Deco dining chairs now featured upholstered backs as well as padded, and sometimes sprung, seats. Occasional or fireside armchairs of the period often have open arms in a Modernist hoop style. Salon chairs were a cross between the dining chair and a padded version of the carver or elbow chair and are particularly versatile in today’s home. Although fully upholstered armchairs came originally as part of a suite, today these can be offered singly or in pairs to suit specific furnishing requirements
Sofas are generally either 2-seater or 3-seater and were usually part of a matching 3-piece ‘Lounge suite’ with 2 armchairs. The most iconic design is the Epstein ‘Cloud’ shape—with either full wraparound veneers or all-round upholstery and banded in walnut or maple. Variations of the Cloud design include tulip and scalloped styles. The ‘Tank’ suite was among popular designs by other makers, where the design of the arms is reminiscent of a 1st World War army tank. Day beds were another particularly chic piece and are rare today.