VB Magazine - September 2024 - Winging It in Furniture Design

Originally contrived as a utilitarian necessity in 1600s England and Scotland, a typical chair sprouted “wings”—also called “ears” or “saddle cheeks”—to protect its occupant from drafts as well as to capture the heat from the hearth. One of the earliest is the Scottish Orkney Chair,

The iconic Queen Anne wing chair (or wingback chair) dates to 1720; it is characterized by long, elegant cabriolet legs and upholstery. Queen Anne had died by then, but her style endured. The French counterpart, known as a bergère, dates to 1760 (Louis XVI) and is typically wood framed and upholstered.

Beth Read Pusser, owner of Oodles of Wallpaper, stresses the importance of symmetry in wing chair placement, with or without a fireplace. “They still need to flank something because of their height—usually 42 inches tall—if not a fireplace, then bookshelves, or the dining room table,” she says.

And if you want to keep that cozy, enveloped feeling when it’s time to retire, says Pusser, “They’re also making wing beds.”