An easy chair, usually with a somewhat reclining back and open arms. Some versions were made with detachable book and feet rests. Also of interest are metamorphic chairs, a chair which opened up to become a set of library steps. These are quite rare and keenly sought because of their dual function, when they come onto the market.

A substantial table, equipped with drawers or cupboards, and sometimes with an adjustable reading rack, designed to stand in the centre of the library. They took the form either of a pedestal desk at which two people could sit opposite each other, or of a more conventional table form. The tops were generally lined with tooled leather. Many Australian examples in red cedar and sometimes stained pine survive from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

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An important pair of George II carved giltwood library chairs,…

George II Giltwood Library Chairs with Acanthus Carvings

An important pair of George II carved giltwood library chairs, each with serpentine crest to back above padded arms and seat, elaborately carved with accanthus leaves and coin motifs throughout, supported by cabriole legs with similar decoration and…

Exceptional Irish Regency library armchair, mid 19th century,…

Irish Regency Library Armchair with Griffin Supports

Exceptional Irish Regency library armchair, mid 19th century, in the manner of Mack, Williams & Gibton, buttoned back brown leather upholstery, with two finely carved griffin supports, height 112 cm width 82 cm depth 55.5 cm. Provenance: Private…

A pair of George III mahogany Gainsborough library chairs,…

George III Mahogany Library Chairs, Circa 1770

A pair of George III mahogany Gainsborough library chairs, circa 1770, with shaped crest above a rectangular back, downswept arms, raised on square legs joined by stretchers, upholstered in later heraldic fabric, cream shield shaped emblems amidst foliate…

A fine pair of William IV mahogany library chairs, each…

William IV Library Chairs in Olive Green Leather

A fine pair of William IV mahogany library chairs, each upholstered in olive green leather. The reeded 'S' shaped seat supported on two reeded and tapered turned front legs and two plain back legs with brass castors. England, circa 1830. Provenance:…

Pair of library chairs early 20th century, winged back, with…

Winged Leather Library Chairs, Early 20th Century

Pair of library chairs early 20th century, winged back, with deep button olive leather upholstery, height 100 cm

A George II upholstered mahogany library armchair, circa 1750,…

A George II upholstered mahogany library armchair, circa 1750, the brocade upholstered back, arms and seat standing on cabriole front legs carved with acanthus, ending in claw and ball feet

A Regency brass inlaid rosewood and leather upholstered bergere…

Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Bergere Library Chair

A Regency brass inlaid rosewood and leather upholstered bergere library chair, circa 1830, with twist carved terminals to the crest rail, above a buttoned burgundy leather upholstered back, seat and sides, flanked by padded arms leading to fluted…

A William IV mahogany and leather bergere library chair,…

William IV Library Chair with Green Leather Upholstery

A William IV mahogany and leather bergere library chair, upholstered in green buttoned leather, the down-swept arms, raised on turned and block supports, once in the library of Harrington park colonial homestead, from 1954, 50 cm wide, 81 cm deep, 93 cm…

Walter Burley Griffin Swivel desk chair, circa 1917, made for…

Griffin's Oak Swivel Chair

Walter Burley Griffin Swivel desk chair, circa 1917, made for Newman College University of Melbourne, oak with leather upholstery, 58 cm across the arms

Walter Burley Griffin desk chair, Japanese oak, Australia, c…

Griffin's Oak Desk Chair

Walter Burley Griffin desk chair, Japanese oak, Australia, c 1918, 110 cm high, 58 cm wide, 61 cm deep. Provenance: Newman College Melbourne University. Geoffrey Hatty Applied Arts, Australian Modernist Collection

A George IV mahogany library bergere, upholstered in close…

A George IV mahogany library bergere, upholstered in close nailed leather, the scrolled armrests above a reeded apron, on turned and reeded front legs. CITES permit May be required for export, width 77 cm

A fine quality George III mahogany library chair, circa 1770,…

George III Mahogany Library Chair

A fine quality George III mahogany library chair, circa 1770, the vase shaped pierced splat, with out swept arms on square chamfered legs, with contemporary fabric upholstery. Provenance: Purchased Creswick Antiques, Somerset, England, circa 1980.

An Irish Chippendale style carved open arm library chair, late…

Irish Chippendale Chair and Side Table Set

An Irish Chippendale style carved open arm library chair, late 18th century, together with a small conforming Chippendale style single drawer side table side table, the chair with down-swept arm supports and carved scroll feet, upholstered in green silk,…

Pair of good George III library chairs, 60 cm wide, 117 cm high,…

George III Library Chairs with Restoration Receipt

Pair of good George III library chairs, 60 cm wide, 117 cm high, copy of restoration receipt attached

An unusual George III mahogany and leather upholstered desk…

George III Desk Chair with Leather Upholstery

An unusual George III mahogany and leather upholstered desk chair, English 18th century 88 cm high, 62 cm wide, approx, 53 cm deep. Provenance: Partridge London, 1973 (675 pounds)

A George IV mahogany library chair, English, early 19th century,…

George IV Mahogany Library Chair with Striped Upholstery

A George IV mahogany library chair, English, early 19th century, upholstered in button back stripped fabric on fluted legs, 110 cm high, 83 cm wide and 73 cm deep

A William IV mahogany library chair, with 'S' shaped arm…

William IV Mahogany Library Chair with Red Leather Upholstery

A William IV mahogany library chair, with 'S' shaped arm supports and turned and reeded legs on brass castors. Covered with red leather upholstery. England, circa 1835. Provenance: The collection of Mr & Mrs Rene Rivkin, Sotheby's Sydney, 3 June 2001, lot…

A pair of Victorian oak leather upholstered library chairs

Victorian Oak Leather Library Chairs

A pair of Victorian oak leather upholstered library chairs

Office chair burgundy leather upholstery, swivel base

Burgundy Leather Swivel Office Chair

Office chair burgundy leather upholstery, swivel base

Regency mahogany library chair the frame all carved with…

Mahogany Library Chair with Carved Frame and Green Leather Upholstery

Regency mahogany library chair the frame all carved with scrolls on turned front supports with aged green leather studded upholstery

A Louis XV style carved giltwood salon suite, 19th century,…

19th Century Louis XV Giltwood Salon Suite

A Louis XV style carved giltwood salon suite, 19th century, comprising a canape, a pair of fauteuil and a pair of salon chairs, each with a floriate carved crest rail centred by a shell anthemion, upholstered in cream floral satin, length of back of the…

Regency mahogany and cane library bergere, c. 1815, in the…

Regency Library Bergere with Cane and Leather Cushions

Regency mahogany and cane library bergere, c. 1815, in the manner of Gillows, the rectangular reeded back and padded arms above turned vase-shaped supports, on reeded turned tapering legs with brass capped castors, brown leather cushions, height 98 cm.…

Stunning pair of late Regency mahogany library chairs, c.1825,…

Regency Mahogany Library Chairs with Leather Seats and Castors

Stunning pair of late Regency mahogany library chairs, c.1825, with shaped petalled crest rails, above a caned back, above reeded scrolling arms terminating to acanthus scrolls, with buttoned leather seats, raised on turned legs with carved tulip motifs…

An English rosewood and leather library chair, early 19th…

Rosewood and Leather Library Chair

An English rosewood and leather library chair, early 19th century, the rosewood frame accented with inlaid motifs, upholstered in studded worn orange leather to back, seat and arms, the arms terminating in scrolls, standing on turned foliate carved legs,…

A George III mahogany and leather library arm chair, circa 1770,…

George III Leather Library Arm Chair

A George III mahogany and leather library arm chair, circa 1770, of typical 'Gainsborough' form, the square back and padded arm-rests with downswept supports above the generous seat, on square-section supports united by peripheral and cross stretchers,…

Antique early 19th century Regency library chair, deep buttoned…

Regency Lyre Armchair in Red Leather

Antique early 19th century Regency library chair, deep buttoned red leather upholstery, lyre shaped arm supports, standing on turned fluted legs

A George IV leather upholstered library chair, English, circa…

George IV Leather Library Chair, c. 1825

A George IV leather upholstered library chair, English, circa 1825

A George III studded leather upholstered mahogany library chair

Studded Mahogany Library Chair

A George III studded leather upholstered mahogany library chair

A spade back cedar library chair with black leather upholstery…

Cedar Library Chair with Leather Upholstery, c1840

A spade back cedar library chair with black leather upholstery and scroll arms, c1840

Good late 19th century leather library armchair, with a…

Good late 19th century leather library armchair, with a straight buttoned leather back and sloping sides and seat, with turned supports and covered seat on turned legs, covered in olive green leather, height 94 cm. Provenance: purchased Bonhams "Fairwater…

An antique metamorphic fold-over library steps chair,…

Metamorphic Library Chair with Parquetry Motif

An antique metamorphic fold-over library steps chair, Queensland maple and eucalypt with parquetry motif, late 19th century maker's label to underside 86 cm high

Antique American Heywood Bros & Co desk chair with leather…

Antique Leather Desk Chair by Heywood Bros & Co

Antique American Heywood Bros & Co desk chair with leather upholstery, 57 cm wide, 90 cm high

A George III green leather mahogany library chair

Green Leather Library Chair with Mahogany Frame

A George III green leather mahogany library chair

George II style mahogany library armchair, 19th century,…

Mahogany Library Armchair with Zebra Upholstery

George II style mahogany library armchair, 19th century, upholstered in zebra mohair, the scrolled arm terminating in eagle heads, raised on carved cabriole legs, height 100 cm

Colonial cedar leather covered library chair

Cedar Leather Library Chair

Colonial cedar leather covered library chair

A Regency revival mahogany cane sided library chair with green…

Regency Mahogany Library Chair with Green Velvet Upholstery

A Regency revival mahogany cane sided library chair with green velvet upholstery, circa 1890

Good William IV Brazilian rosewood bergere library chair with…

William IV Library Chair with Rosewood and Leather

Good William IV Brazilian rosewood bergere library chair with caned back and loose leather upholstered cushions circa 1835

William IV mahogany and red leather library chair, c.1835 with…

William IV mahogany and red leather library chair, c.1835 with rectangular back, with s-scroll arms on turned reeded legs on stretchers. Provenance: Ex-Mr and Mrs Rene Rivkin, Sotheby's, Sydney, June 2001, lot 219, then private collection, Sydney.

A Regency leather and mahogany library chair, mushroom-toned…

Regency Library Chair with Mahogany Frame and Leather Upholstery

A Regency leather and mahogany library chair, mushroom-toned old leather on a restrained scrolling mahogany frame with upholstery nail detail, on brass and ceramic casters. Width 76 cm, depth 56 cm, height 107 cm.

An oak library chair, English circa 1825, upholstered in…

English Oak Library Chair, 1825

An oak library chair, English circa 1825, upholstered in stripped fabric and supported in turned front legs, 102 cm high

Regency mahogany and cane library armchair, 19th century, with…

Regency Library Armchair with Leather Cushions

Regency mahogany and cane library armchair, 19th century, with brown leather cushions, raised on turned legs with brass castors, height 102 cm. Provenance: The Collection of Janet and Graeme Webb, Wollogorang, NSW

A stretcher-based mahogany campaign style desk and chair, 20th…

Mahogany Campaign Desk and Chair Set

A stretcher-based mahogany campaign style desk and chair, 20th century, with leather insert, three drawers with recessed brass handles, corner, strapping and stringing, pairs of X - form leg bases united by a turned, stretcher, the conforming chair with a…

An elegant Regency library chair, in mahogany, with sweeping…

Regency Mahogany Library Chair with Leather Upholstery

An elegant Regency library chair, in mahogany, with sweeping scroll arms and deep buttoned leather upholstery with studded edges. The 'S' scroll continuous back and seat raised on arched back legs and turned front legs, height 90.5 cm, width 62 cm, depth…

William IV library chairs, a pair of rare mahogany armchairs…

Rare Mahogany Library Chairs with Carved Legs

William IV library chairs, a pair of rare mahogany armchairs with tulip turned and carved front legs

A metamorphic library chair in the Regency manner, converts to…

Regency Library Chair/Steps

A metamorphic library chair in the Regency manner, converts to a set of library steps, after an 1810 design by Morgan & Sanders, steps: 72 cm high, 58 cm wide, 94 cm deep

A large Irish Chippendale style mahogany open arm library chair,…

Irish Chippendale Mahogany Library Chair, 1765

A large Irish Chippendale style mahogany open arm library chair, circa 1765, with richly carved rococo motifs to the knees and scrolled cabriole feet

An Empire / Restauration desk chair c1825

Empire Restauration Desk Chair, c. 1825

An Empire / Restauration desk chair c1825

A fine pair of Biedermeier satin birch library chairs, circa…

A fine pair of Biedermeier satin birch library chairs, circa 1830s, 59 cm across the arms

A Dutch marquetry open armchair, circa 1820 in mahogany with…

Marquetry Armchair with Satinwood Inlay, 1820

A Dutch marquetry open armchair, circa 1820 in mahogany with satinwood inlay, once in the library of the Pierre Hotel Fairfax penthouse, New York, 60 cm wide, 53 cm deep, 91 cm high

An oak library chair/step. 91 cm high.

Oak Library Chair/Step - 91cm High

An oak library chair/step. 91 cm high.

A rare Australian fold-over library chair/steps, Australian…

Rare 19th Century Australian Cedar Library Chair/Steps

A rare Australian fold-over library chair/steps, Australian cedar, 19th century, 91 cm high as steps

A Regency style metamorphic library chair with scrolled arms

Regency Metamorphic Library Chair with Scrolled Arms

A Regency style metamorphic library chair with scrolled arms

An early Colonial spade back library chair made from 'Beauty…

Colonial Library Chair from Beauty Leaf Tree, Queensland (1845)

An early Colonial spade back library chair made from 'Beauty Leaf Tree' (*Calophyllum Inophyllum), Queensland origin, circa 1845, 51 cm across the arms. Calophyllum Inophyllum is a large fruit bearing plant, and a culturally important source of Tamanu oil…

A pair of English oak library chairs, late 19th century

19th Century English Oak Library Chairs

A pair of English oak library chairs, late 19th century

A pair of mid-Victorian rosewood and leather upholstered…

Victorian Rosewood Library Armchairs with Leather Upholstery

A pair of mid-Victorian rosewood and leather upholstered library armchairs, each with a shaped back above the open padded arms, the frames moulded and carved, each 105 cm high, 65 cm wide, 75 cm deep

An Edwardian Arts & Crafts. metamorphic library steps,…

Arts & Crafts Library Chair with Metamorphic Steps

An Edwardian Arts & Crafts. metamorphic library steps, decorative bar backs to the chair, leather inserts to the steps. 38 x 33 x 85 cm.

An antique English library armchair, finely carved mahogany…

Antique English Mahogany Library Armchair with Brass Castors

An antique English library armchair, finely carved mahogany frame with original brass castors and later upholstery, early 19th century, 88 cm high, 60 cm across the arms

A Colonial cedar turned leg and scroll-arm library chair, in…

A Colonial cedar turned leg and scroll-arm library chair, in the style of Andrew lenehan. Australian, circa 1845. upholstered in burgundy and black decorative horsehair, 50 cm wide, 90 cm high

A Georgian mahogany and leather upholstered library chair,…

A Georgian mahogany and leather upholstered library chair, circa 1815, standing on ring turned legs

Antique English William IV mahogany library chair with deep…

William IV Mahogany Leather Library Chair (9 words)

Antique English William IV mahogany library chair with deep buttoned leather circa 1835, approx 125 cm high, 60 cm wide

A good quality William IV period mahogany library chair, with…

William IV Mahogany Library Chair with Leather Upholstery

A good quality William IV period mahogany library chair, with open elbows, slightly curved back, swan neck supports to the arms, acanthus carved legs with original large brass casters - with brass studded, deep buttoned mottled olive green leather…

A scarce library Chair/Folding ladder an unusual colonial era,…

Colonial Era Jarrah Library Chair/Ladder

A scarce library Chair/Folding ladder an unusual colonial era, Western Australian, jarrah metamorphic library chair with ladder back and folding frame. C.1900. Chair height: 89 cm. The ladder top step 88 cm

An English mahogany and green leather wing back library chair.

Mahogany Wingback Library Chair with Green Leather

An English mahogany and green leather wing back library chair.

A Colonial library chair with splayed and ring turned legs,…

Colonial Library Chair with Carved Scroll Arm Supports

A Colonial library chair with splayed and ring turned legs, carved scroll arm supports, Australian cedar with brown leather upholstery, mid 19th century, 92 cm high, 64 cm across the arms

Regency mahogany and cane library chair, c. 1820, the curved…

Regency Cane Library Chair with Suede Upholstery

Regency mahogany and cane library chair, c. 1820, the curved tub shaped frame with cane back, with suede upholstered seat, raised on two tapering carved front legs and two back sabre legs with brass castors

Gentleman's library chair Victorian mahogany with deep button…

Victorian Mahogany Library Chair with Olive Leather Upholstery

Gentleman's library chair Victorian mahogany with deep button aged patina olive leather upholstery

19th century cedar open arm library chair

Cedar Open Arm Library Chair - 19th Century

19th century cedar open arm library chair

Antique 19th century leather studded horse shoe desk chair.

Studded Leather Horse Shoe Desk Chair

Antique 19th century leather studded horse shoe desk chair.

A carved walnut metamorphic library step chair, 107 cm high, 38…

Walnut Metamorphic Library Step Chair

A carved walnut metamorphic library step chair, 107 cm high, 38 cm wide, 40 cm deep

An Arts & Crafts oak metamorphic library chair. Height 90 cm

Oak Metamorphic Library Chair

An Arts & Crafts oak metamorphic library chair. Height 90 cm

A George IV library chair, English, 19th century, 100 cm high

George IV Library Chair, 19th Century

A George IV library chair, English, 19th century, 100 cm high

A Victorian walnut library chair in the Gothic style, English,…

Victorian Gothic Walnut Library Chair

A Victorian walnut library chair in the Gothic style, English, 19th century

An antique oak and leather library or desk chair, late 19th…

19th Century Oak and Leather Library Chair

An antique oak and leather library or desk chair, late 19th century, the button upholstered U shaped back with lion's head terminals, the upholstered seat on carved cabriole front supports with ball and claw feet with castors, height 82 cm, width 66 cm,…

Desk chair for Thonet, bentwood on swivel base. Czech, c 1930s,…

Bentwood Swivel Chair by Thonet, 1930s

Desk chair for Thonet, bentwood on swivel base. Czech, c 1930s, 80 cm high, 60 cm wide, 55 cm deep.

19th century English oak swivelling office chair with scrolled…

English Oak Swivel Office Chair with Bentwood Arms

19th century English oak swivelling office chair with scrolled bentwood arms

Victorian library chair cedar, green leather upholstery,…

Victorian Cedar Spindleback Library Chair with Green Leather Upholstery

Victorian library chair cedar, green leather upholstery, spindleback, ex Supreme court

William IV library chair, with X frame construction and deep…

William IV Leather Library Chair

William IV library chair, with X frame construction and deep buttoned leather upholstery, 59 cm wide, 87 cm high

Victorian buttoned library armchair, finely carved with…

Victorian Carved Buttoned Library Armchair

Victorian buttoned library armchair, finely carved with scrolled floral and foliage back, arms and front legs, 69 cm wide, 105 cm high

Chesterfield style wingback Burgundy leather library chair and…

Burgundy Chesterfield Wingback Chair & Footstool Set

Chesterfield style wingback Burgundy leather library chair and footstool, late 20th century,

William IV padouk (rosewood) high back upholstered library…

1835 High Back Library Chair with Olive Green Upholstery

William IV padouk (rosewood) high back upholstered library chair with olive green leather upholstery circa 1835

A William IV mahogany and green leather wing back library…

Mahogany Wing Back Library Armchair with Green Leather

A William IV mahogany and green leather wing back library armchair, with buttoned detailing, raised on tapering hexagonal front legs terminating in porcelain casters.

Dickens desk and chair late 19th century circa 1870 mahogany,…

19th Century Mahogany Desk and Chair Set

Dickens desk and chair late 19th century circa 1870 mahogany, twin pedestal with green leather inlay and matching swivel chair, Height118 cm, Length:150 cm, depth:79 cm

An upholstered ' Captains Style' office chair 20th century,…

Leather Upholstered Office Chair with Castors

An upholstered ' Captains Style' office chair 20th century, having button down leather upholstery upon office castors Height 112 cm

A green leather upholstered desk chair

Green Leather Desk Chair

A green leather upholstered desk chair

A leather desk chair, length of back 77 cm

77cm Leather Desk Chair

A leather desk chair, length of back 77 cm

Good French Empire style desk chair, with a curved crest rail,…

French Empire Style Desk Chair with Ormolu Mounts

Good French Empire style desk chair, with a curved crest rail, with leather insert above a lyre shaped centre plat, flanked by a pair of arms, accented with ormolu mounts and heads, above a green upholstered leather seat, raised on four tapering legs with…

A pair of French Empire style mahogany desk chairs.

French Empire Mahogany Desk Chairs

A pair of French Empire style mahogany desk chairs.

A Cuban mahogany library chair in the Georgian style, 72 cm…

Georgian-style Cuban Mahogany Library Chair (72cm)

A Cuban mahogany library chair in the Georgian style, 72 cm across the arms

Pair of William IV bergere library chairs, one 19th century,…

William IV Bergere Library Chairs with Green Velvet Arms

Pair of William IV bergere library chairs, one 19th century, the other of a later date, each with green velvet arms raised on turned legs with brass castors

Napoleon III ebonised beech desk chair, c. 1860, scrolled back…

Napoleon III ebonised beech desk chair, c. 1860, scrolled back over swept arm supports, seat upholstered in close nailed woven leather, turned reeded legs terminating in a ball feet, height 74 cm, width 61 cm, depth 52 cm. Provenance: Ben Stoner Antiques,…

A Victorian mahogany library chair with brown velvet upholstery,…

Mahogany Library Chair with Velvet Upholstery, 1830

A Victorian mahogany library chair with brown velvet upholstery, circa 1830

Victorian leather upholstered walnut library armchair 3rd…

Victorian Walnut Library Armchair with Leather Upholstery

Victorian leather upholstered walnut library armchair 3rd quarter 19th century. The rectangular upholstered back with padded arms raised on spiral-turned supports, the bow fronted seat raised on similarly turned legs ending in brass feet with castors. Ex.…

An antique English rosewood reclining library chair, Louden…

An antique English rosewood reclining library chair, Louden design, circa 1830, 104 cm high, 57 cm across the arms

An antique metamorphic library chair, carved walnut, circa 1890,…

1890 Walnut Library Chair with Metamorphic Design

An antique metamorphic library chair, carved walnut, circa 1890, 89 cm high

Leather upholstered Chesterfield desk chair 83 cm wide, 109 cm…

Chesterfield Leather Desk Chair - Classic and Comfortable

Leather upholstered Chesterfield desk chair 83 cm wide, 109 cm high

Mahogany swivel desk chair with leather upholstery and ball…

Mahogany Leather Swivel Desk Chair with Ball Claw Feet

Mahogany swivel desk chair with leather upholstery and ball claw feet, 62 cm wide, 91 cm high approx.