What Are Chair Feet?

History

• Chairs have been around since Egyptian times, although initially they were reserved for dignitaries. From the beginning these objects were designed to be raised off the ground, supported by chair legs and chair feet. The feet were often carved in detail to represent bull hooves or lion paws. Fashions have changed throughout the ages, and although ornately carved feet can still be seen today on antique chairs, modern chairs tend to have a simpler style of foot.

Legs and Feet

• Both chair feet and legs hold the seat above the ground, but legs are longer. Chair legs tend to support the seat of the chair at table or desk height. At the bottom of the leg is the foot. In modern furniture, chair feet are often used alone, especially in armchairs, often only lifting the chair seat a few inches from the ground.

Style

• Chair feet come in different styles and can be used to identify the age and provenience of a chair. For example, a claw and ball foot, which has an animal or bird's claw clutching a ball, is often identified with Chippendale, while an arrow foot is a common feature on Windsor chairs. A modern chair foot might only be a wooden disk.

Function

• Chair feet ensure that the the seat of the chair is at an appropriate height for purpose, raising the chair to the height of a table or desk or creating an ergonomic shape for sitting on.