The wingback chair is something not commonly associated with Georgian era furniture since the styling of the furniture was never “overstuffed,” but it was definitely a chair we would have seen in this era. The important point to know is where and why since a guest in a drawing room would never have sat in one, likely not to have seen one in the house, either. The second important point to know is that it was not called a “wingback chair.”

The term “wingback chair” wasn’t popular until after the Regency era had ended, so while it’s possible someone could have used this phrase, it’s unlikely. The terms used for this style of chair would have been “fireside chair,” “lug chair,” “wing chair,” “club chair,” and “cheek chair.” Funnily enough, the French of the 18th century called the sides cheeks or saddle-cheeks rather than wings. In Germany, the wings were ears.

This chair first appeared in England in the 17th century, the design being quite different than we know them today. The construction was fully wood rather than fabric or leather, the only cushion being the seat itself.

It became popular in the 18th century, but was fairly exclusive to landed gentry and aristocracy. 

By the late 18th century, upholstery was added, specifically leather and studding. In the early 19th century, we see a wider variety of upholstery, including vivid colouring and patterns. The legs were typically cabriole legs, ornate and slender but strong and sturdy. Despite the lovely upholstering, there was not much padding. The seat, back, and arms were mostly flat, a far cry from our overstuffed chairs of today. We don’t see generous padding until we reach the mid-19th c. when they added horsehair stuffing. Speaking of which, there was not an extra "cushion" on the seat, as we see today. There was only the seat itself.

The chair was crafted for a specific use: sitting before the fireplace. This was its sole purpose and its sole place in the house, to sit in front of the fireplace where the lord of the manor most enjoyed his evenings, such as in his study or his library. It was distinct from other chairs by including wings to prevent drafts and thus protect his lordship from chills, as well as to protect from excessive heat or sparks from the open fireplace. The lord of the manor would be cradled within the wings, the warmth enveloping him on a cold evening.

The design was originally inspired by the settle, which was a popular piece of furniture in the earlier half of the 18th century. The settle was a high-backed wooden bench. There are references to the wing chair as early as 16th century England, but the chair was reserved for royalty. We don’t see this chair used by gentry or part of the cabinetmaking revolution until the late 17th century (1660-1680).