Skip to main content

Metamorphic Reading Chair

Burr Walnut Brown Leather Regency Metamorphic Reading Armchair to Library Steps
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
‘patent’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture This chair, which transforms into a short set of steps for use with
Category

Antique 18th Century English Regency Chairs

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Ltd Edition Stewart Linford William Shakespeare Metamorphic Library Steps Chair
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
Georgian bookcases you have a reading chair next to the bookcase and when you need to get a book down from
Category

20th Century English Victorian Chairs

Materials

Oak

Ornately Carved Gothic English Oak Library Steps Metamorphic Chair Carpet Steps
Located in GB
collectable piece, designed as an at home library steps and reading chair, these are used to add a sense of
Category

Antique 1850s English Early Victorian Chairs

Materials

Oak

Fine Antique Mid Victorian circa 1850 Metamorphic Library Steps Original
Located in GB
as an at home library steps and reading chair, these are used to add a sense of grand occasion to a
Category

Antique 1850s English High Victorian Chairs

Materials

Oak

Fine Antique Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps Original Carpet Upholstery
Located in GB
, designed as an at home library steps and reading chair, these are used to add a sense of grand occasion to
Category

Antique 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps William Morris Carpet Upholstery
By William Morris (English)
Located in GB
, designed as an at home library steps and reading chair, these are used to add a sense of grand occasion to
Category

Antique 1880s English Arts and Crafts Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Oak

Antique 1830 William IV Flamed Hardwood Metamorphic Library Armchair Steps
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
listing. The period 1800-1825 was a great one for ‘patent’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture This chair, which
Category

Antique 1830s English William IV Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Pair of Hardwood Gilt Metal Empire Revival Metamorphic Library Steps Armchairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture. This chair, which transforms into a short set of steps for use with
Category

20th Century English Regency Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

British Campaign Mahogany “Knock-Down" Antique Armchair Johnstone & Jeanes
By Johnstone, Jeanes & Co.
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE VICTORIAN CAMPAIGN MAHOGANY AND LEATHER METAMORPHIC ARMCHAIR England, circa 1840-60; seat
Category

Antique 19th Century English Campaign Chairs

Materials

Brass

Antique 1880 Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps Original Carpet Upholstery
Located in GB
, designed as an at home library steps and reading chair, these are used to add a sense of grand occasion to
Category

Antique 1880s English Arts and Crafts Ladders

Materials

Oak

Antique 1810 Attributed to Gillows Metamorphic Leather Library Armchair Steps
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
known for their ingenious furniture, including reading chairs with writing surfaces attached and a great
Category

Antique 1810s English Regency Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Restored Metamorphic Antique Regency Armchair to Library Steps Gillows Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
-1825 was a great one for ‘patent’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture This chair, which transforms into a short
Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Antique Carved Oak 1890 Attributed to Gillows Metamorphic Library Armchair Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
. Gillow's were well known for their ingenious furniture, including reading chairs with writing surfaces
Category

Antique 1890s English Late Victorian Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Oak

People Also Browsed

19th Century Chinese Chippendale Pagoda Cabinet
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Houston, TX
A stunning and rare 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale pagoda cabinets. This highly stylized hand carved mahogany cabinets features, glass shelving, pagoda gabled roofs, classi...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Original 17th Century Andrea Brustolon Hand Carved Italian Walnut Armchair
By Andrea Brustolon
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original 17th century attributed to Andrea Brustolon hand carved Italian walnut armchair with Cherubs throughout This chair is abso...
Category

Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy

Materials

Other

Ash Library Steps
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Beautiful ash library staircase, with many details. The steps are very stable in use due to the construction and the long handle. Perfectly suited for everyday use and multiple purpo...
Category

2010s English Ladders

Materials

Ash

Ash Library Steps
Ash Library Steps
H 57.09 in W 11.82 in D 20.48 in
Set of 6 Original Gothic Revival Chairs of the 19th Century
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This set of six neo-Gothic chairs was made in the 1890s. The dark stained oak frame is intricately shaped and has typical neo-Gothic features. The various ornaments and decorative el...
Category

Antique 19th Century Austrian Gothic Revival Chairs

Materials

Wood, Wicker

Stunning Antique circa 1810 George III Elm & Leather Library Steps Georgian Home
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite circa 1810 George III elm & green leather library steps What a thing of beauty, nothing screams Georgian decadence li...
Category

Antique 1810s English George III Ladders

Materials

Leather, Elm

Rare 19th Century Italian Memento Mori Bust / Sculpture Carrara Marble Vanitas
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Masterfully carved Italian Vanitas / Memento Mori bust in solid marble from late 19th century. White Carrara marble skull combined with masterfully carved hood & robes all from one...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Busts

Materials

Carrara Marble

Stunning 19th Century Art Nouveau Cast Iron French Daybed
Located in Hastings, GB
An absolutely gorgeous cast iron day bed, made in France circa 1890, the deeply cast floral design with acanthus leaves and scrolls, it exudes early French Nouveau influences. The w...
Category

Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Daybeds

Materials

Iron

19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed brings to life the neoclassical revival that occurred during the reign of Napoleon III. Executed in exotic imported rosewood, it fea...
Category

Antique 1890s French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Rosewood

Pair of Late Victorian Hand Dyed Brown Leather Chesterfield Porters Armchairs
By Chesterfield
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of late Victorian, fully restored Chesterfield cigar brown leather porters armchairs These are a real statement piece and lo...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Antique French Provincial Country Oak Wood Folding Library Step Ladder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Provincial country oak wood folding library step ladder. Item features remarkable patina, fold out steps, exposed joinery, solid wood construction, beautiful wood grai...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Provincial Ladders

Materials

Wood, Oak

Antique Hand Carved Oak Gothic Blanket Chest w. Church Window Panels & Knight
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful Gothic Revival chest with an amazing presence and patina. If you like Gothic Revival furniture then we are certain you will like this quality carved and intricate chest....
Category

Early 20th Century European Gothic Revival Blanket Chests

Materials

Wrought Iron

Antique Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps Ladder Side Table Brass Tread
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique Arts & Crafts Victorian metamorphic library steps side table in oak with period brass treads A very charming and highly col...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Tables

Materials

Brass

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CIRCA 1860 HAND CARVED BURR WALNUT HALF TESTER CANOPY BEd
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in England Burr Walnut ornately carved Half Tester Canopy bed A very good looking, extremely comfortable and well-made bed, t...
Category

Antique 1860s British Victorian Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Hardwood

Vintage Metamorphic Indian Wooden Step Ladder Folding Side Chair
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage Indian metamorphic wooden ladder chair from the mid-20th century. Created in India during the midcentury period, this convenient chair features a slanted slatted back flowi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Ladders

Materials

Wood

Fully Restored Recliner Chaise Lounge CIR 1860 Victorian Brown Leather Armchair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely fully restored Victorian reclining chaise lounge armchair A very good looking well made and exceptionally comfortable piece. This ch...
Category

Antique 1860s English Early Victorian Chaise Longues

Materials

Leather

Recent Sales

18th C Corner Mahogany and Pine Metamorphic Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
A unique 18th century mahogany metamorphic reading chair with detachable book and candle arms. The
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Corner Chairs

Materials

Mahogany, Pine

Mid 20th Century English Leather Reading Chair with a Metamorphic Armrest
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual reading chair upholstered in beige leather. What sets this particular chair apart
Category

Late 20th Century British Club Chairs

Materials

Leather

Set of Antique Metamorphic Library Steps, English, Oak, Folding Chair, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
antique metamorphic library steps, rotating smoothly into a fascinating reading chair. Perfect for the
Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Chairs

Materials

Oak

Antique 20th Century Metamorphic Oak Library Chair, England, C.1900
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual oak “metamorphic“ library chairs dating to the late 19th / early 20th century. With
Category

20th Century British Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Oak

Antique Victorian Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps for Large Bookcases
Located in GB
reading chair, these are used to add a sense of grand occasion to a standard bookcase I don't come
Category

Antique 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Ladders

Materials

Oak

Stunning Antique Victorian 1880 English Oak Library Steps Metamorphic Chair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer this lovely antique Victorian pine metamorphic library steps chair in oak
Category

Antique 1880s English Victorian Chairs

Materials

Oak

Period Victorian 1880 English Oak Library Bookcase Steps into Metamorphic Chair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique Victorian metamorphic library steps chair in
Category

Antique 1880s English High Victorian Chairs

Materials

Oak

Metamorphic Shepherd's Crook Reading Armchair to Library Steps Gillows Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
known for their ingenious furniture, including reading chairs with writing surfaces attached and a great
Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Ornately Carved Victorian 1880 English Oak Library Steps Metamorphic Chair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer this lovely antique Victorian metamorphic library steps chair in hand
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bookcases

Materials

Oak

English 19th Century Regency Mahogany Library Steps Ladder Metamorphic Armchair
By Morgan & Sanders
Located in Firenze, IT
Regency style metamorphic chair constructed in the manner of Morgan & Sanders cabinet maker is a dual-use
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Regency Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Metamorphic Reading Chair", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Metamorphic Reading Chair For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the metamorphic reading chair you’re looking for. Each metamorphic reading chair for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, oak and hardwood. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer metamorphic reading chair, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Each metamorphic reading chair bearing Victorian, Arts and Crafts or Regency hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made metamorphic reading chair over the years, but those crafted by William Morris (English) are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Metamorphic Reading Chair?

The average selling price for a metamorphic reading chair at 1stDibs is $3,575, while they’re typically $1,710 on the low end and $17,447 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right seating for You

With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.

Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.

Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.

The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.

Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.

With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.

Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.

No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.

Questions About Metamorphic Reading Chair
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    The best chair for reading is ultimately a matter of preference. You’ll want to think about a comfortable chair that will be suitable to sit in for a long period — think about form, upholstery, whether the chair will support your back and neck properly and more. Keep your space constrictions in mind as well as your budget. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique, new and vintage chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A good reading chair will have a high, firm back to provide enough support to the neck and back. It should also have comfortable armrests so that one’s arms are relaxed and it is easy to prop a book. A plush upholstered cushion for the seat will make the reading experience even better. Find a collection of antique and vintage reading chairs on 1stDibs today.