Victorian Chairs and Sofas

About Victorian Society

• During the Victorian era, the mass majority of people believed that "more was more," when it came to everything in life: furniture, wall art and even clothing. The more furniture and belongings that one possessed, the higher their status in society. It was not unusual for Victorian homes to be cluttered, filled to the brim with ornate furniture, wall coverings, drapery, artwork and gold accent pieces.

Identification

• Furniture, particular Victorian chairs and sofas, was often overstuffed and featured many curves. The legs were composed of woods, often stained a dark color. Victorian chairs, such as dining chairs, could go either way and be either made from solid wood or mix of wood and upholstery. It was also not uncommon to see doilies draped over the backs of chairs, as this was done to protect the furniture from the Macassar oil men used in their hair.

Influences

• Several influences were present at various times in Victorian furniture. The first known influences of Victorian are traced back to Augustus Pugin, an English architect. In his work, he used ornate neo-Gothic design or Gothic revival, which at the time was also considered modern. It featured trefoils (similar in appearance to a three-leaf clover) and pointed arches. Victorian furniture was also influenced by the Rococo revival period, in which the furniture began to take a more romantic appearance with swirling lines and natural motifs.

Materials

• Woods used to build the sofas and chairs were often black walnut, mahogany and rosewood. However, some furniture may also have been made from cheaper woods, such as oak. High-quality Victorian furniture was hand-carved, though mass-production of furniture also began making an entry into the market; as seen with the Eastlake style of furniture. Upholstery for chairs and sofa could be made of a plethora of materials, ranging from horsehair to hay.