Guest Blogger: Highlighting the History of Fabulous Tub Chairs

Guest Blogger #957, Entry #2401, May 9, 2013

Many of you reading this may have heard of Tub Chairs, most commonly made from Leather found in a reception or bar/ restaurant.  You may even have one of your own in your living room. You would certainly be forgiven for thinking that Tub Chairs are a modern invention. They in fact originate much further back as far as the 18^th century.

In the 17^th century chairs were very standard; they were typically made from wood and were designed to be used at the dining table so were not that comfortable.  Into the 18^th century the French began to develop more comfortable chairs for the wealthy, taking advantage of expensive upholstery to give the chairs the added comfort they required.

Tub chairs have come a long way to today’s modern interiors

Image via: Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

There is no known record of who actually invented the Tub Chair. It is likely to have been developed during the reign of the French King Louis XV. Originally Tub Chairs were used in French Courts exclusively by King Louis XV and were considered the epitome of comfort. In the publication by Thomas Sheraton called the Cabinet Dictionary published in 1804, it is cited that King Louis XV revolutionized the rounded back chairs and Tub Chairs are further referenced throughout many more French publications. King Louis XV is therefore considered to be one of the key people to popularise the use of the Tub Chair.

Tub Chairs come to America

It is unknown what Tub Chairs were initially named if at all but it is known that the term “Tub” was not coined until the chairs arrival into America. At the end of the 18^th century the chair was brought over into New York and Boston. Initially the chairs were not as successful as they had been in France, this was until a Boston Cabinet maker by the name of George Bright had noticed the chair design and was creating a range of experimental Tub Chairs in 1797. These were to be used in the Boston New State House. A man named Charles F Montgomery, an American design authority labelled them the Tub Chair, commenting on how it was one of the most interesting chair designs to carry over from Europe into the United States. This led to an increase in popularity of the Tub Chair in America and continued to spread across Europe.

Tub chairs are great in this dining room

Image via: Dayna Katlin Interiors

How has the Tub chair gained popularity?

Many historians are still puzzled as to how the Tub Chair has continued to gain popularity throughout the decades and has remained a current design. This can of course be attributed to the Tub Chairs unmatched comfort and appearance, the slow spread of the design meaning that it stayed popular through the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  Its continued popularity through continued adoption by various countries as it spread across Europe and America. The Victorian English were heard to favour Tub Chairs for their comfort and were re-popularized around the 19^th Century as French designed furniture style Rococo Revival became very popular with the English. Rococo Revival which was originally made popular at the Crystal Palace Exposition in 1851 increased popularity for uniquely curved furniture which was both stylistic and comfortable. This continued popularity for comfortable curved furniture which meant that the Tub Chair design was revived with it and has remained popular into the 20^th century. This brings us round to the 21^st century where the Tub Chair has seen a recent spike in popularity as a modern piece of furniture suitable for both commercial and home use. With the range of types of Tub Chair expanding with various types of materials such as Leather and patterned Fabrics to Swivel Tub Chairs.

Tub chairs can be upholstered in many fabric varieties.

Image via: New Mood Design LLC

The Tub Chair continues to remain popular and ever adapt to cultural requirements. If history is anything to go by Tub Chairs are likely to remain a part of common culture for the foreseeable future.

That completes the known history of the Tub Chair and where it originates. Its core design has stayed relatively close to the original only to be refined and adapted over the years as the design continues to find uses in more spaces.

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