Styles of Wing Chairs

Queen Anne & Chippendale

• Queen Anne wing-chairs are designed after the style of the Queen Anne period in England, roughly 1720 to 1750. They have cabriole legs: double-curved, with the upper portion converse and the lower, concave; and a claw-and-ball, or paw, foot. Wing chairs designed after the Chippendale style, or English furniture of the 1750's and 1760's, have straight legs.

Upholstered

• Endless choices of styles exist in upholstered materials, from stripes and patterns to solids and vinyls. Woods include cherry, mahogany, maple, walnut and pecan. Backs may be tufted and buttoned, and nail-heads are available in metals like pewter and brass.

Leather

• Leather wing chairs are classic, elegant and at the high end of the price range. They are available in most styles from Queen Anne and Chippendale to a range of modern designs. Many are tufted and buttoned. The leather is available in a variety of colors and there are ample woods to choose from. Some leather chairs are swivel and others come with ottomans. Leather chairs, as well as other styled wing chairs, work well in homes and offices.

Recliners

• Recliners are the most comfortable of all wing chairs because they recline to accommodate the person who wants to lie back in the chair. Because they are designed for comfort and not style, they tend to be a bit bulky. They are not a decorator's wing chair of choice.