The Curious Comfort of the New England Corner Chair

By Pam LaFountain

Recently, while giving tours at the Austin Corbin Mansion in North Newport, NH, a visitor asked me:

“How do you sit in that chair?”

---

A Search for the Chair’s Name

Being someone who loves a good mystery, I went home and began a determined search. The hardest part was figuring out the proper name. After trying phrases like “unusual 1880s chair” and “off-set legged chair,” I finally found the match: the corner chair.

---

From Corners to Center Stage

The name comes from its original use—placed in the corner of a room to fill an empty space, then brought out for extra seating.

Its design was inspired by Chinese chairs with six to eight legs and marble seats. The corner chair first appeared in England in the early 18th century and remained popular well into the 19th century. Early examples often occupied private spaces such as dressing rooms and gentlemen’s bedchambers.

Some corner chairs had removable seats; with a cloth skirt added, they could discreetly conceal a chamber pot. Over time, their comfort brought them into more public rooms, such as libraries and sitting rooms.

---

Design and Craftsmanship

While today’s corner chairs may be padded in fabric to resemble sectional sofa pieces—or built from metal or resin wicker—traditional versions were crafted from mahogany, cherry, or walnut, often with ornate carvings and upholstered seats.

Common features included:

• Cabriole legs (S-shaped, narrowing toward the bottom)
• Curved and tapered armrests
• Ornate twin back panels
• Legs rotated 45 degrees from regular chairs
• Side legs that extend upward to support the arms

---

Comfort with Purpose

One reason for their enduring appeal is ergonomics—the curved back of a corner chair encourages good posture, making them especially popular as desk chairs.

They often appear in portraits of people reading or writing. Patrick Henry owned one, and Colonial Williamsburg still sells reproduction models. It’s said that “1700s gentlemen would plop down in a corner chair for a pint of beer and a pipe,” making it the 18th-century lounge chair.

---

Many Names for One Chair

Because of their versatility, corner chairs have also been called:

• Roundabout chair
• Writing chair
• Barber’s chair
• Smoking chair
• Desk chair

---

Separating Fact from Fiction

Not all theories about their purpose hold up to scrutiny. One myth is that the design allowed a man wearing a sword to sit easily—most historians doubt this.

Other explanations seem more credible:

• Women in hoop skirts could sit more comfortably.
• A party guest could easily swivel from one conversation to another without leaving the chair.

---

A Fading Fashion

By the 1930s, corner chairs had largely fallen out of style. Today, they’re often found in antique shops—and sometimes at bargain prices. If you spot one, you may just bring home a beautiful conversation piece.

---

Historic Example

---

Sources & Further Reading

If you’d like to explore more about corner chairs, check out these resources:

• 1stDibs – Historical & Antique Furniture
• The Source for Antiques – The Curious Case of the Corner Chair
• Apartment Therapy – Corner Chair Inspiration
• New Yankee Workshop – Corner Chair Episode
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Corner Chair Collection

---

Blog article submitted by Pam LaFountain