King Peacock Chair
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Finding the Right Armchairs for You
Armchairs have run the gamut from prestige to ease and everything in between, and everyone has an antique or vintage armchair that they love.
Long before industrial mass production democratized seating, armchairs conveyed status and power.
In ancient Egypt, the commoners took stools, while in early Greece, ceremonial chairs of carved marble were designated for nobility. But the high-backed early thrones of yore, elevated and ornate, were merely grandiose iterations of today’s armchairs.
Modern-day armchairs, built with functionality and comfort in mind, are now central to tasks throughout your home. Formal dining armchairs support your guests at a table for a cheery feast, a good drafting chair with a deep seat is parked in front of an easel where you create art and, elsewhere, an ergonomic wonder of sorts positions you at the desk for your 9 to 5.
When placed under just the right lamp where you can lounge comfortably, both elbows resting on the padded supports on each side of you, an upholstered armchair — or a rattan armchair for your light-suffused sunroom — can be the sanctuary where you’ll read for hours.
If you’re in the mood for company, your velvet chesterfield armchair is a place to relax and be part of the conversation that swirls around you. Maybe the dialogue is about the beloved Papa Bear chair, a mid-century modern masterpiece from Danish carpenter and furniture maker Hans Wegner, and the wingback’s strong association with the concept of cozying up by the fireplace, which we can trace back to its origins in 1600s-era England, when the seat’s distinctive arm protrusions protected the sitter from the heat of the period’s large fireplaces.
If the fireside armchair chat involves spirited comparisons, your companions will likely probe the merits of antique and vintage armchairs such as Queen Anne armchairs, Victorian armchairs or even Louis XVI armchairs, as well as the pros and cons of restoration versus conservation.
Everyone seems to have a favorite armchair and most people will be all too willing to talk about their beloved design. Whether that’s the unique Favela chair by Brazilian sibling furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who repurposed everyday objects to provocative effect; or Marcel Breuer’s futuristic tubular metal Wassily lounge chair; the functionality-first LC series from Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret; or the Eames lounge chair of the mid-1950s created by Charles and Ray Eames, there is an iconic armchair for everyone and every purpose. Find yours on 1stDibs right now.
- What is a king chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A king's chair is called a throne. The king or queen usually sits in a large, bejeweled chair. King's chairs are huge and beautiful chairs meant for vast and decorative living spaces. Find a large collection of antique and vintage king's chairs on 1stDibs today.
- How old are peacock chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJune 30, 2023How old peacock chairs are, as well as their origin, has been debated for decades. Not to be confused with the Peacock chair created by Danish furniture maker Hans J. Wegner, the iconic wicker seating design is believed to have first appeared in the Philippines. The American silent film-era actress Norma Talmadge posed in a peacock chair for a promotional photograph, and the seats became a staple of photo shoots, earning acclaim during the mid-century years in the United States when they appeared in publicity materials for prominent musicians and other celebrities. The chair became popular again during the 1960s in Haight-Ashbury, and it was featured at the time in a famous photograph of political activist and Black Panther Party cofounder Huey P. Newton. On 1stDibs, shop a range of peacock chairs.
- What is a wicker peacock chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A wicker peacock chair is a chair made of wicker featuring a very large back that extends up and around, much like a peacock’s feathers when ruffled. This type of chair first appeared in the early 1900s and became very popular for photographs. Shop a collection of wicker furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- When was the Peacock chair made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023There are at least two chairs known to mid-century modern furniture collectors that were called Peacock chairs. Verner Panton, a Danish designer, made his papasan-style Peacock chair in 1960. Another Danish furniture designer, Hans Wegner, created his Peacock chair years earlier in 1947. Shop a selection of vintage Peacock chairs on 1stDibs.
- What is a king's chair called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A king’s chair is called a throne. It is usually an oversized, bejeweled chair on which a king or queen sits. Chairs designed for living spaces that are large and decorative are considered as king’s chairs. Find a large collection of antique and vintage king’s chairs on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022You can cord a Hans Wegner peacock chair in a number of ways. Traditionally, the chair featured an over-under weave created by first wrapping the seat with vertical pairs of cord running from the back to the front. Then, artisans worked horizontally, pulling the cord through the vertical pairs. However, you can find many other patterns to try online. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Hans Wegner peacock chairs.
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