A more generous kind of dining chair
There is a quiet ceremony to the chair at the head of the table. Dining chairs with arms, long known as carver chairs, were traditionally placed where the host sat to carve and serve, set a little apart from the armless side chairs by their wider frame and supportive arms. Today they are just as likely to be chosen in pairs, or to surround a whole table, simply because arms make a chair more comfortable to settle into and easier to rise from. At Neptune, our dining chairs with arms come in solid oak, woven Lloyd Loom, upholstered and painted designs, each made to be lived with rather than simply looked at.
What makes a carver chair
The term carver chair comes from the carving that once happened at the head of the table, where the host needed room to move and a frame solid enough to lean on. The defining feature is the arms, which lend a sense of occasion as well as support. A carver is usually a little broader and more generous than a side chair, which is why people often look for dining chairs with arms when they want seating that feels welcoming for a long lunch. Whether you place one at each end or choose a full set of carver chairs, the effect is a table that feels considered and complete.
Solid oak, Lloyd Loom, upholstered and painted designs
Our carver chairs begin with the material, because that is what shapes how a chair feels and how it wears. The solid oak designs, including the Wardley carver with its Shaker ladder back and swallowtail joint, are made without MDF or chipboard and finished with IsoGuard®, which penetrates the timber to protect it while leaving the natural grain on show. The Tilbury carver pairs an oak frame with a woven rattan seat for a more relaxed look, while the Havana brings the softer, tactile character of Lloyd Loom, a woven tradition that reaches back to the early twentieth century. The Shoreditch and Mowbray offer upholstered comfort with a choice of fabrics, and the Wardley is also available as a painted design for a quieter, considered finish.
Made to keep, made to pair
A carver chair is built to be leaned on and pulled in and out for years, which is why every Neptune design carries our lifetime guarantee. Many have a matching side chair, so you can set dining chairs with arms at the ends and armless chairs along the sides, or choose carvers all the way round. They pair naturally with our dining tables and dining benches too, making it easy to build a setting for both formal dinners and relaxed weekday meals.
