Porter's Chairs

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Years ago, porters sat near the entrances of castles and large estates in chairs like this: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-WLAwh6O34fneQcPofe_L8Ty5fByjKjlcS97UG3rBKvleidO0tBlCwHD1jkKS8D-TICrAV9RbkdZKcJpmN3NILgBZKVi07_4jucmq8EAFbMhYAyVTxOYGDz2AtIJJvMrxpkaUs-h3D6o/s1600/d4759761r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-WLAwh6O34fneQcPofe_L8Ty5fByjKjlcS97UG3rBKvleidO0tBlCwHD1jkKS8D-TICrAV9RbkdZKcJpmN3NILgBZKVi07_4jucmq8EAFbMhYAyVTxOYGDz2AtIJJvMrxpkaUs-h3D6o/s640/d4759761r.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-louis-xv-style-beechwood-porters-chair-20th-4759761-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4759761&sid=748612ea-5994-4d8b-b501-43cf4c663bf4" target="_blank">A Louis XV-Style Beechwood Porter's Chair</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20th century</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sold by <a href="http://www.christies.com/" target="_blank">Christie's</a> for $1,680 in New York City (August 1 - 2, 2006).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWL8CkZ2uFB47TunFVuZT-BBECFSD9cO7tRbwyLbbpI6bKzs0_y3Uon9PYdmT2JZ7xyY6u0sioX2dWzKM22OpIzbYhpSzSA7WZTGEK0NLvzW_Mh778mc9u7A1g54y_KydHhyAW4i7ycnN/s1600/d5029463r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWL8CkZ2uFB47TunFVuZT-BBECFSD9cO7tRbwyLbbpI6bKzs0_y3Uon9PYdmT2JZ7xyY6u0sioX2dWzKM22OpIzbYhpSzSA7WZTGEK0NLvzW_Mh778mc9u7A1g54y_KydHhyAW4i7ycnN/s640/d5029463r.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/furniture-lighting/a-brass-studded-leather-upholstered-first-half-5029463-details.aspx?from=searchresults&pos=1&intObjectID=5029463&sid=c7a76a50-859d-42ec-840a-e110fc9949a0&page=1" target="_blank">A Brass Studded Leather Upholstered Porter's Chair</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First Half 20th Century</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"With an arched canopy and loose cushion in the seat with a hinged fall front below"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sold by <a href="http://www.christies.com/" target="_blank">Christie's</a> for $7,418 (U.S.) in London (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 8, 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWTKlzAeSe8js9PyMRe6uvEyVCV5tcumyYpj5hQr_jflhvIDzrVJvmejWQtMeu0pvuSz3UbfhBf3hPMTcjIesjLFZkwwXKthq87xp8LqoyXOGETPM7pG0bJvz6UlG4A5Bv_7e0EXGUSQl/s1600/d4865167r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWTKlzAeSe8js9PyMRe6uvEyVCV5tcumyYpj5hQr_jflhvIDzrVJvmejWQtMeu0pvuSz3UbfhBf3hPMTcjIesjLFZkwwXKthq87xp8LqoyXOGETPM7pG0bJvz6UlG4A5Bv_7e0EXGUSQl/s640/d4865167r.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/furniture-lighting/a-leather-upholstered-porters-chair-second-half-4865167-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4865167&sid=c7a76a50-859d-42ec-840a-e110fc9949a0" target="_blank">A Leather Upholstered Porter's Chair</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second half 20th century</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With button down and brass studding.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sold by <a href="http://www.christies.com/" target="_blank">Christie's</a> for $4,453 (U.S.) in London (February 20, 2007).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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 <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i>. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjQKU0Ppc-ZGB3uIPGEjsK9A75TjnCq9vYPk-kfpMfVwJY4PSBEhLpXZ8YREqT0IxSEyDfImh2icxZnp8eOi20Sa6evJjBZPg8YRYPGDYIM2vZrYnexfkyf78MdPrBHekeb8KWxffk1je/s1600/640px-Teaparty.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjQKU0Ppc-ZGB3uIPGEjsK9A75TjnCq9vYPk-kfpMfVwJY4PSBEhLpXZ8YREqT0IxSEyDfImh2icxZnp8eOi20Sa6evJjBZPg8YRYPGDYIM2vZrYnexfkyf78MdPrBHekeb8KWxffk1je/s640/640px-Teaparty.svg.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Teaparty.svg" target="_blank">Illustration by John Tenniel</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i> by Lewis Carroll.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">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 . . . </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZKODVVtxEV1qkJVd97WzGFuzCcAgD0Vd6-dEVM3kg1xojxS0DfwYr3XBpFUOEaP_zcr0NuQpsGBi2NTpaDwinC_rDE1QLDG3FB_6polqKENyZwtPuaCF-qpTaCKziPCVWsitDlIee8zn/s1600/EDC040112Castillo14-625-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZKODVVtxEV1qkJVd97WzGFuzCcAgD0Vd6-dEVM3kg1xojxS0DfwYr3XBpFUOEaP_zcr0NuQpsGBi2NTpaDwinC_rDE1QLDG3FB_6polqKENyZwtPuaCF-qpTaCKziPCVWsitDlIee8zn/s640/EDC040112Castillo14-625-lgn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is easy to imagine a porter sitting in this chair next to the door.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"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."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Madrid apartment of antiques dealer and interior decorator Lorenzo Castillo and Alfonso Reyero. The 17th-century building once housed a convent.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.lorenzocastillo.org/" target="_blank">Lorenzo Castillo</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/spanish-conquest#slide-14" target="_blank">Spanish Conquest</a>" by Andrew Ferren.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/" target="_blank">Elle Decor</a> (April 2012).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2XvlmhisX-U-rk9w2txm4TgJRKWpiA7_gE87tRT4TVmeQD-nSs0kX6opaRZ1SiVNnnMqkQYyzKCEHV1bCoD-UyoFprg49h-ribbnor9tZzPAywkFJr3XHaBpenGSNZqtiwDf2yWvcTUF/s1600/ED0312_DesignSol2_005-400-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2XvlmhisX-U-rk9w2txm4TgJRKWpiA7_gE87tRT4TVmeQD-nSs0kX6opaRZ1SiVNnnMqkQYyzKCEHV1bCoD-UyoFprg49h-ribbnor9tZzPAywkFJr3XHaBpenGSNZqtiwDf2yWvcTUF/s640/ED0312_DesignSol2_005-400-lgn.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In the living room, the wood stump and cowhide rug are from <a href="http://www.jaysonhome.com/" target="_blank">Jayson Home</a>; the bookcase is by <a href="http://www.ikea.com/" target="_blank">IKEA</a>, and the vintage porter's chair was found in Palm Beach."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago, Illinois apartment of Devin Kirk, vice president of merchandising for Jayson Home, and Chad Idol.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Abranowicz.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling/a-good-buy#slide-4" target="_blank">A Good Buy</a>" interview by Michael Lassell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/" target="_blank">Elle Decor</a> (March 2012).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pkzbC6LJg9-a99qqZuqsmdBiXTh5yKGJcHXI7KNMR813c0vRSOuXRVTQ-r42GpaphB10KXRyrJwragosrRTYe_-zgsN5_PHUu8kxeK3wE1ZW2qotK86i84leJRix09O4FSKaGqiUKrTW/s1600/design-styles-ED1109-34-Carter-014-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pkzbC6LJg9-a99qqZuqsmdBiXTh5yKGJcHXI7KNMR813c0vRSOuXRVTQ-r42GpaphB10KXRyrJwragosrRTYe_-zgsN5_PHUu8kxeK3wE1ZW2qotK86i84leJRix09O4FSKaGqiUKrTW/s640/design-styles-ED1109-34-Carter-014-lgn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"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."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washington, D.C. townhouse of decorator and furniture designer <a href="http://www.darrylcarter.com/" target="_blank">Darryl Carter</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/darryl-carters-dc-townhouse#slide-10" target="_blank">Darryl Carter's D.C. Townhouse</a>" by Mitchell Owens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/" target="_blank">Elle Decor</a> (November 2009).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBGLTMgLQBmpcPGckjdUGNiqGQxcVnc4zu17Ehzm3VntBIn78mjp2VavSBFBxrLFbNZOBppnTCqkj2WYMlMoI3wzCKn282hxu3UMhZiUFh77oDHK-UYSSr7cP_jo0TteWzXan6nJM8i1X/s1600/item02.rendition.slideshowVertical.02_ozzy_sharon_osbourne_home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBGLTMgLQBmpcPGckjdUGNiqGQxcVnc4zu17Ehzm3VntBIn78mjp2VavSBFBxrLFbNZOBppnTCqkj2WYMlMoI3wzCKn282hxu3UMhZiUFh77oDHK-UYSSr7cP_jo0TteWzXan6nJM8i1X/s640/item02.rendition.slideshowVertical.02_ozzy_sharon_osbourne_home.jpg" width="594" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The foyer features a pair of custom-made porter's chairs covered in an <a href="http://www.edelmanleather.com/" target="_blank">Edelman leather</a>. The table is 19th-century French, and the bronze hand sculpture is by British artist Marc Quinn."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles, California home of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.martynlawrencebullard.com/" target="_blank">Martyn Lawrence-Bullard</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Roger Davies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Fred Schruers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/celebrity-homes/2011/ozzy-sharon-osbourne-home-slideshow#slide=2" target="_blank">Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne at Home</a>" produced by Carlos Mota.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/" target="_blank">Architectural Digest</a> (June 2011).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc_XK1peCn2asSeIgE6bUjUwaa5IXXEz_U6oJedoLN7kmxfnSbTXPXONgaTm8KUdyD0spR8a75lgZGfivuCp85EIvJa_32BToX1M5irO6I0K2WYQO9x4M3paedKErVN8Nzu55o7rYcDZk/s1600/main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc_XK1peCn2asSeIgE6bUjUwaa5IXXEz_U6oJedoLN7kmxfnSbTXPXONgaTm8KUdyD0spR8a75lgZGfivuCp85EIvJa_32BToX1M5irO6I0K2WYQO9x4M3paedKErVN8Nzu55o7rYcDZk/s640/main.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/info/restaurantIndex.jhtml" target="_blank">BG Restaurant</a> located on the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman's New York City store. "Designed by renowned interior designer <a href="http://www.kellywearstler.com/" target="_blank">Kelly Wearstler</a> [the restaurant is] a four room space with Central Park views."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note the blue porter's chairs in the back right-hand corner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo from <a href="http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/info/restaurantIndex.jhtml" target="_blank">Bergdorf Goodman's website</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgKm50KVstWXLNnv64hpis5FrVXjHW9bHepbv5x5OaL2nCA-yHJ2fXeRBTvIuvx1RhDG1PCnbW8uWVKtvx17WaSzI6ZohQo0cxwtamg0sy_QaT6zUWs-xgNsvp1eokeQiVpnZltr3L2DH/s1600/0510-warner-04-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgKm50KVstWXLNnv64hpis5FrVXjHW9bHepbv5x5OaL2nCA-yHJ2fXeRBTvIuvx1RhDG1PCnbW8uWVKtvx17WaSzI6ZohQo0cxwtamg0sy_QaT6zUWs-xgNsvp1eokeQiVpnZltr3L2DH/s640/0510-warner-04-de.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The light, cheerful mood continues in the dining room, where <a href="http://www.palecek.com/" target="_blank">Palecek</a>'s Rhodes dining chairs surround a vintage table from <a href="http://www.rubbishinteriors.com/" target="_blank">Rubbish Interiors</a>. A retro EAT sign from the <a href="http://www.sundancecatalog.com/" target="_blank">Sundance</a> catalog rests on <a href="http://www.bakerfurniture.com/" target="_blank">Baker Studio</a>'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 <a href="http://www.cowtanandtout.com/" target="_blank">Cowtan and Tout</a>'s Pavillion Wide Braid. The <a href="http://www.massimovitali.com/" target="_blank">Massimo Vitali</a> beach scene photography yields yet another pop of turquoise."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Hollywood, California rental apartment of interior designer Melissa Warner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior Design by Melissa Warner (<a href="http://www.massuccowarnermiller.com/" target="_blank">Massucco Warner Miller</a>).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Victoria Pearson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/hollywood-regency-rental-apartment-0510?click=main_sr#slide-4" target="_blank">A Hollywood Regency-Style Apartment</a>" by Mimi Read.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (May 2010).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iTTje5CskKWC9gZI8zupLRCpk3XW9beVOJkWmcozGol-y6HLc-oFnLBf9fCQRnmOnNmcwFdpDA4IRaOLLLXkvglYJikOGRLPDfKxPgbp1VeZdssjd3UrRyWjs11ocaDx6iCl8CcVuqJO/s1600/0510-warner-07-hooded-chair-stripe-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iTTje5CskKWC9gZI8zupLRCpk3XW9beVOJkWmcozGol-y6HLc-oFnLBf9fCQRnmOnNmcwFdpDA4IRaOLLLXkvglYJikOGRLPDfKxPgbp1VeZdssjd3UrRyWjs11ocaDx6iCl8CcVuqJO/s640/0510-warner-07-hooded-chair-stripe-de.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The hooded chair 'is all anyone ever talks about - it's sculpture,' says interior designer Melissa Warner."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">West Hollywood rental apartment of Interior designer Melissa Warner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Melissa Warner (<a href="http://www.massuccowarnermiller.com/" target="_blank">Massucco Warner Miller</a>).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Victoria Pearson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/hollywood-regency-rental-apartment-0510?click=main_sr#slide-7" target="_blank">A Hollywood Regency-Style Apartment</a>" by Mimi Read.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (May 2010).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwADgCyHJ83jsWdB7Cr89TWOf5Pxo7fJWBwY9PXp2DSQRITs6mmaIC3w3InrnDZlxTWTW6BS-r5x4Aq0WMauR4KALkx-CvzxYO58EqElDBvXg8OTyHJ2zYJh7Et2EMSimCxTZqZE7WkadC/s1600/prod2140075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwADgCyHJ83jsWdB7Cr89TWOf5Pxo7fJWBwY9PXp2DSQRITs6mmaIC3w3InrnDZlxTWTW6BS-r5x4Aq0WMauR4KALkx-CvzxYO58EqElDBvXg8OTyHJ2zYJh7Et2EMSimCxTZqZE7WkadC/s640/prod2140075.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2140075&cm_ps=modal_add_to_cart-_-none-_-other_items_you_may_like&categoryId=search" target="_blank">Versailles Upholstered Chair</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/" target="_blank">Restoration Hardware</a>'s version of the porter's chair (Shown in sand Belgian linen).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$1795 - $2395.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVtBxCiyNsRJKVSS_EeJNNEqJeU_yyZPxSSj_tKV3vDX-f-VBKXa0EW7AZG4iCYvl35aOLZlXXesgh1hzZb-GGfosYBWaYd3gmiFpr7RwxzDsNy3Xb4eX4pVMoNYctKNY02b79wLUqpeG/s1600/prod2140075_av3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVtBxCiyNsRJKVSS_EeJNNEqJeU_yyZPxSSj_tKV3vDX-f-VBKXa0EW7AZG4iCYvl35aOLZlXXesgh1hzZb-GGfosYBWaYd3gmiFpr7RwxzDsNy3Xb4eX4pVMoNYctKNY02b79wLUqpeG/s640/prod2140075_av3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rear view of Versailles Upholstered Chair (shown in sand Belgian linen).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/" target="_blank">Restoration Hardware</a>'s version of the porter's chair.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$1,795 - $2,395.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWs3nxPs0ctXUFEEz5NhujQaxpORBmHNtEETLUBgkZvRInAB18rM_Z1_03KCF-k9KG0HebvbmdS0pBhyphenhyphenfAk5xCu0wS5YJ7tiPnRreiBGZww4SJdZRC5h_x5ZCj8ZhSKgmickGdT9SaIbW/s1600/11005LL_080_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWs3nxPs0ctXUFEEz5NhujQaxpORBmHNtEETLUBgkZvRInAB18rM_Z1_03KCF-k9KG0HebvbmdS0pBhyphenhyphenfAk5xCu0wS5YJ7tiPnRreiBGZww4SJdZRC5h_x5ZCj8ZhSKgmickGdT9SaIbW/s640/11005LL_080_web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mad Hatter chairs designed by <a href="http://purestylehome.blogspot.com/search?q=mad+hatter+chair" target="_blank">Lauren Liess</a> for </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the </span><a href="http://www.dcdesignhouse.com/2011/?p=385" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Washington, D.C. Design House</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (2011).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.michaelsmithinc.com/jasper-furniture-and-fabrics/prints/jp-6436-grace-willow/" target="_blank">Michael S. Smith (Jasper) floral fabric called Grace in the color Willow</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(from <a href="http://www.johnrosselliassociates.com/" target="_blank">John Rosselli</a>, Washington, D.C.).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.helennorman.com/" target="_blank">Helen Norman</a>. Assistant F.J. Hughes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3nU9-6dCeVST2G_I8VyERyJp7WR2eDE9xkqxJipeD8RWtvDI1moWOd3nP9kMETQ0DeNGkTD5TTY7oRrRiGtITRTIr3_ysCoVs1G6fitBtUPCHQMwuFKtGKKxpwurcJftZhUVBCFLHL25/s1600/11005LL_092_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3nU9-6dCeVST2G_I8VyERyJp7WR2eDE9xkqxJipeD8RWtvDI1moWOd3nP9kMETQ0DeNGkTD5TTY7oRrRiGtITRTIr3_ysCoVs1G6fitBtUPCHQMwuFKtGKKxpwurcJftZhUVBCFLHL25/s640/11005LL_092_web.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back of "Mad Hatter Chair" designed by <a href="http://purestylehome.blogspot.com/search?q=mad+hatter+chair" target="_blank">Lauren Liess</a> for </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the <a href="http://www.dcdesignhouse.com/2011/?p=385" target="_blank">Washington, D.C. Design House</a> (2011).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.michaelsmithinc.com/jasper-furniture-and-fabrics/prints/jp-6436-grace-willow/" target="_blank">Michael S. Smith (Jasper) floral fabric called Grace in the color Willow</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(from <a href="http://www.johnrosselliassociates.com/" target="_blank">John Rosselli</a>, Washington, D.C.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.helennorman.com/" target="_blank">Helen Norman</a>. Assistant F.J. Hughes.</span></div>

Porter'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 2...

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