Barley Twist Armchair
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Barley Twist Armchair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Barley Twist Armchair?
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 barley twist lamp?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023A barley twist lamp is a table lamp or floor lamp that has a spiraling base. Usually, the bases are solid mahogany wood, but other types of wood and even metal are sometimes used. Find a variety of lamps from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What does barley twist mean?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The term “barley twist” refers to thin spiraling forms. Most often when barley twist is used, it relates to furniture. During the 19th century, many chairs, tables and casegoods featured barley twist legs. You can find a range of barley twist furniture on 1stDibs.
- What is a classic barley twist?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A classic barley twist refers to a specific attribute of a piece of furniture. The “twist” refers to a furnishing’s twisted form — in a table’s legs or in its trim, for example — that resembles a twisted stalk of barley sugar. The twist was frequently made of beech or walnut.
- How are barley twist legs made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Barley twist legs were originally cut by hand until the invention of the lathe, which assisted with creating the twisted design. Barley twist legs are named after sticks of barley sugar and feature a spiral look. Browse a selection of furniture featuring barley twist legs on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Barley twist furniture dates back to the Jacobean and Stuart eras in England and the Louis XIII and Louis XIV eras in France. During this time, many furniture makers produced chairs, tables and case goods with twisty legs. The name barley twist comes from barley sugar candy enjoyed at the time. Shop a range of barley twist furniture on 1stDibs.
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