A Quick But Equally Informative Guide To Tub Chairs

black tub chairTub chairs seem to be making something of a comeback of late and are often seen in many café’s and bistro’s up and down the country. They help to give off a relaxing, warm appearance for any potential customer wanting to kick back and relax for a while. That said, their unique shape and design can divide opinions. All that said they do have a unique story to tell, so without further ado, let’s delve into the past, present, and future of the ‘love it or loathe it’ tub chair.

The unique design of the tub chair has been around for hundreds of years stretching back to the 18th century. Initially they were bespoke pieces made by master craftsmen that were virtually unaffordable to everyday folk. Instead only the the upper classes could afford the type of tub chairs that were produced because they were hand-made with real leather and stretched across a solid oak base. Leather tub chairs of this quality are considered some of the finest antique furniture and one chair can easily make tens of thousands of dollars and more, given the right sale.

Thankfully, nowadays they’re also made from a wide variety of other materials and composites making them way more affordable for the masses, but how did the name come about?

The unique design does resemble an old fashioned bath tub and this is where many people believe that the name comes from. However this is likely to be a myth and instead it’s said to be a variation on the name ‘club chair’.

In the 18th and 19th century ‘Gentleman’s Clubs’ which were fashionable in Europe were establishments where well-to-do folk could sit and discuss the politics, scandal and general ‘goings-on’ of the day. As these were basically elite clubs for upper classes, they could also afford the very best furniture and this is why many clubs had ‘club chairs’. In addition the shape and style of the chair lent itself perfectly to the environment. Over the years the ‘club’ chair transposed into the ‘tub’ chair and eventually, the name stuck.

Nowadays tub chairs can often be found in hotels, golf lounges, airports and café’s. It’s a versatile piece of furniture that’s simply great for sitting back and unwinding and this surely is what café culture is all about. Maybe, just maybe, the tub chair has found a new place in our hearts, as well as our café’s.

Here at Cafe Chairs Melbourne we have a wide variety of café furniture in stock including tub chairs all at great value for money prices. So if you’re looking for quality café furniture without it costing you a small fortune, then check out our website at cafefurniturebrisbane.com.au.

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