— schuyler style —

The Easy Chair

An easy chair, now known as a wing chair, is a fully upholstered chair with rounded "wings" projecting from the sides of the back, right above the arms. Unlike other chairs from the 18th century, easy chairs were designed for comfort: the seats had enough room to move around easily and the wings provided protection from cold drafts or direct heat of open fires as well as a headrest. Sometimes a chamber pot could be found beneath the seat cushion; this style of easy chair was referred to as "close stools" in cabinetmakers' price books.
Easy chairs became popular with the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, when comfort became a major concern in English court furniture. Chairs were fully upholstered, some with reclining backs, onto which wings were attached and people could sleep against. By 1700 the classic "Queen Anne" easy chair was common, and whose form evolved by about 1740. When this style of chair was brought to the American colonies, American furniture makers adopted features of both the early and later English forms, using them until the end of the century.

The earliest known reference to an easy chair on this continent was in an inventory dating to 1708. They remained popular in the colonies throughout the century and it was extremely common to find them listed in inventories of wealthy families.

Interestingly enough, easy chairs were almost always located in bedchambers. Etchings by 18th century German artist, Daniel Chodowiecki, show that they were often placed next to beds. Since they were expensive, they were generally reserved for the aged and infirm, who might be seated for most of the day. Young and healthy individuals might have also used this style of chair, but it was not at all common. Consequently, there was a strong association between easy chairs and the aged and they were almost never used in English or American portraits, unless the portrait was of an elderly person.
It is known that Philip Schuyler owned at least one easy chair, for his youngest daughter, Catharine Schuyler Malcolm, received one from his estate according to an accounting from 1807. In a letter to his son, Philip Jeremiah Schuyler, written on July 21, 1803, Schuyler makes reference to an easy chair. Schuyler wrote:

"I am still unfortunately confined to my chair, for although I now suffer very little pain, I can only move with the aid of crutchs [sic], consequently have little exercise and until I had recourse to the chariot, had almost lost my appetite ..."

Schuyler suffered terribly from gout, a type of arthritis that occurs when there is a buildup of uric acid in the joints. As a result, he was frequently ill throughout his life and often rendered immobile through pain; as such, he probably purchased an easy chair quite early and spent much time recuperating in comfort.