Porter&#39;s Chairs

Years ago, porters sat near the entrances of castles and large estates in chairs like this:

A Louis XV-Style Beechwood Porter's Chair

20th century

Sold by Christie's for $1,680 in New York City (August 1 - 2, 2006).

A Brass Studded Leather Upholstered Porter's Chair

First Half 20th Century

"With an arched canopy and loose cushion in the seat with a hinged fall front below"

Sold by Christie's for $7,418 (U.S.) in London (January 8, 2008).

A Leather Upholstered Porter's Chair

Second half 20th century

With button down and brass studding.

Sold by Christie's for $4,453 (U.S.) in London (February 20, 2007).

The tall backs and hoods of these chairs helped protect the porters from drafts and chills. Porter's chairs still have a place in modern interiors, but they often take on an air of whimsy, rather than practicality. Some of the seats featured below would be perfectly at home at a tea party like the one described in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Illustration by John Tenniel.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

In fact, designer Lauren Liess has given the chair she designed the wonderfully appropriate name, the Mad Hatter (last two photos below). Take a look . . .

It is easy to imagine a porter sitting in this chair next to the door.
"In the foyer, an 18th-century table is flanked by a Spanish 17th-century armchair and a Victorian porter's chair; the Bagues chandelier is 1940s."
Madrid apartment of antiques dealer and interior decorator Lorenzo Castillo and Alfonso Reyero. The 17th-century building once housed a convent.
Interior design by Lorenzo Castillo.
Photography by Simon Upton.
"Spanish Conquest" by Andrew Ferren.
Elle Decor (April 2012).

"In the living room, the wood stump and cowhide rug are from Jayson Home; the bookcase is by IKEA, and the vintage porter's chair was found in Palm Beach."

Chicago, Illinois apartment of Devin Kirk, vice president of merchandising for Jayson Home, and Chad Idol.

Photography by William Abranowicz.

"A Good Buy" interview by Michael Lassell.

Elle Decor (March 2012).

"A porter's chair and [Darryl] Carter-designed desk in the master bedroom; a bronze sculpture sits atop a vintage Parsons table, and the convex mirror is 19th century."

Washington, D.C. townhouse of decorator and furniture designer Darryl Carter.
Photography by Simon Upton.

"Darryl Carter's D.C. Townhouse" by Mitchell Owens.

Elle Decor (November 2009).

"The foyer features a pair of custom-made porter's chairs covered in an Edelman leather. The table is 19th-century French, and the bronze hand sculpture is by British artist Marc Quinn."

Los Angeles, California home of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.

Interior design by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.

Photography by Roger Davies.

Text by Fred Schruers.

"Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne at Home" produced by Carlos Mota.

Architectural Digest (June 2011).

BG Restaurant located on the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman's New York City store. "Designed by renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler [the restaurant is] a four room space with Central Park views."

Note the blue porter's chairs in the back right-hand corner.

Photo from Bergdorf Goodman's website.

"The light, cheerful mood continues in the dining room, where Palecek's Rhodes dining chairs surround a vintage table from Rubbish Interiors. A retro EAT sign from the Sundance catalog rests on Baker Studio's Viceroy buffet. Flowering quince branches in an urn from Shrine Home add height. [Melissa] Warner reupholstered an eccentric vintage hooded chair in Pindler and Pindler's Westley, with a racing stripe of Cowtan and Tout's Pavillion Wide Braid. The Massimo Vitali beach scene photography yields yet another pop of turquoise."

West Hollywood, California rental apartment of interior designer Melissa Warner.

Interior Design by Melissa Warner (Massucco Warner Miller).

Photography by Victoria Pearson.

"A Hollywood Regency-Style Apartment" by Mimi Read.

House Beautiful (May 2010).