This is a fine quality antique English Edwardian oak desk chair, with a revolving, reclining and height adjustable mechanism, which has been newly upholstered in green buttoned leather, circa 1910, in excellent condition. 

Summary:

• Item: Oak Desk Chair 

• Circa: 1910 

• Period: Edwardian 

• Provenance: England, UK 

• Wood: Solid Oak 

• High-back design 

• Newly upholstered 

• Rich antique green leather 

• Deep-buttoned back & seat 

• Hand tacked brass studwork frame 

• Elegant shaped arms 

• Reclining & height adjustable mechanism 

• Splayed oak legs 

• Original steel castors 

• Rotates 360 degrees 

• Reclining back action 

• Height adjustable 

• Extremely comfortable 

• Excellent condition 

• Free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* 

• 14-day free UK returns policy 

Description:

This is a fine quality antique English Edwardian oak desk chair, with a revolving, reclining and height adjustable mechanism, which has been newly upholstered in green buttoned leather, circa 1910, in excellent condition.  The English office chair incorporates a buttoned padded backrest, set within a solid oak frame, above a comfortable buttoned leather seat, united by shaped oak arm rests, encapsulated in a moulded seat frame.  The oak desk chair has been newly upholstered to a professional standard in top quality full-grain antique green leather, finished with hand-tacked brass studs to the perimeter.  The oak chair frame has also been cleaned and French polished, by hand, to a professional standard, therefore the colour and patination is of an excellent standard.  The office chair sits on four splayed oak legs that terminate on its original steel castors, which are in good condition. 

The antique office chair retains the original English steel mechanism, allowing it to rotate 360 degrees and recline backwards. The seat height can also be adjusted by turning the bell-shaped screw on the underside of the chair, while the reclining tension can be adjusted by turning the small wheel at the front of the mechanism.  The chair mechanism is in excellent working order, given its age.  The antique oak desk chair has also been cleaned and French polished, by hand, to a professional standard, therefore the colour and patination is of an excellent standard.  This beautiful English swivel office chair is extremely comfortable to sit on. 

This revolving desk chair would look superb in either a traditional or contemporary home, in a variety of rooms, especially the office or study as it is so comfortable.  This item would certainly grace any home.  

History of the Office Chair:  

An office chair, or desk chair, is a type of chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. It is usually a swivel chair, with a set of wheels for mobility and adjustable height. Modern office chairs typically use a single, distinctive load bearing leg (often called a gas lift), which is positioned underneath the chair seat. Near the floor this leg spreads out into several smaller feet, which are often wheeled and called casters.   

Before the nineteenth century, most of the global workforce was employed in agrarian labour—an “office chair” was only relevant for the wealthy, government officials and academics. In fact, Charles Darwin is the earliest known adopter of a proto-office chair, grafting wheels onto a normal chair in the 1840s so he could swivel between specimens. It goes without saying that this was a fairly uncommon use case.  

Then came the railroad, the advent of manufacturing, and the Industrial Revolution. As the traditional model of labour was upended, more administrative workers were needed for logistical coordination and bookkeeping, and the concept of general and administrative workers was born. Businesses empowered by rail access in scaling and expanding to new markets employed more and more people—creating a cadre of middle managers.  

This was the first time in history that productivity accrued on a mass scale from people sitting indoors. As white-collar workers became a crucial economic resource for the first time, their bosses began to recognize the value of making them comfortable.  

The “Centripetal Office Chair”, designed by the inventor Thomas Warren and launched by the American Chair Company in 1851 at the Great Exhibition in London.  An example of this office chair now sits in the Brooklyn Museum.  

Office chairs were developed around the mid-19th century onwards, as more workers spent their shifts sitting at a desk, leading to the adoption of several features not found on other chairs.  

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_chair    

Source: https://www.branchfurniture.com/blogs/turn-key/the-history-of-the-modern-office-chair#:~:text=Mid%2D1800s%3A%20Victorian%20Design,sits%20in%20the%20Brooklyn%20Museum  

Dimensions:

The following information provides dimensions on when the chair height is lowered and also raised to its highest setting using by adjusting the central steel rod: 

External height (raised) = 99.5cm / 39⅛” / 3ft 3⅛”

External height (lowered) = 88.4cm / 34¾” / 2ft 10¾”  

External width (arms) = 59.5cm / 23⅜” / 1ft 11⅜”

External depth = 53.5cm / 21” / 1ft 9”

Seat height – centre (raised) = 59cm / 23¼” / 1ft 11¼” 

Seat height – centre (lowered) = 48cm / 18⅞” / 1ft 6⅞”

Seat width (between arms) = 47.5cm / 18¾” / 1ft 6¾” 

Seat width (leather pad) = 42cm / 16½” / 1ft 6½”

Seat depth (leather pad) = 38cm / 15” / 1ft 3” 

Seat depth (including frame) = 43.5cm / 17⅛” / 1ft 5⅛”

Arm height (raised) = 79cm / 31⅛” / 2ft 7⅛”

Arm height (lowered) = 67.8cm / 27” / 2ft 3” 

Back height (from seat) = 46cm / 18⅛” / 1ft 6⅛” 

Condition Report:

This is a fine quality antique Edwardian American desk chair, with a revolving, reclining and height adjustable mechanism by Johnson Chair Company of Chicago, which has been newly upholstered in green buttoned leather, circa 1910, in excellent condition.  Nominal old use marks to the leading edges of the chair frame and seat but nothing significant considering the age of the item.  The chair has been newly upholstered to a professional standard in top quality full grain antique green leather, finished with hand-tacked brass studs to the perimeter.  Therefore, the leather is in excellent condition, with no signs of wear and tear, damage or holes etc.  The chair frame incorporates the traditional brass studwork tacks to the perimeter. The chair frame has been glued and tightened to ensure it’s in solid in joint, and then French polished, by hand, to a professional standard. Therefore, the colour and patination are of an excellent standard. The original reclining and adjustable height mechanism is in good working condition.  There is some play to the mechanism but this is perfectly acceptable, and in line with the age of the chair.  This antique oak desk chair retains its original castors, which are in good condition.  This item is solid in joint and ready to use. 

Terms & Conditions:

Before purchasing this item, please ensure that you have read and agreed to our Terms & Conditions of Sale.  Furthermore, if you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms, we encourage you to contact us to discuss them in advance.

Product Code: 118827