Throne Chairs: Royal Seating for Weddings, Events and Interiors

A throne chair does one thing that no other piece of furniture does: it makes the person sitting in it the centre of the room. That is why it has outlived the courts it was invented for and turned up again at weddings, in photo studios, in hotel lobbies and on film sets. Casa Padrino, one of the leading international specialists for luxury furniture, builds and supplies hand-carved throne chairs and high-backed royal armchairs, delivered worldwide as single pieces or in pairs.

This page explains where the form comes from, what separates a good throne chair from a prop, and which practical questions decide the purchase. The catalogue comes at the end, because with this piece the measurements matter more than the styling.

Throne chairs pair of baroque Casa Padrino armchairs in gold and velvet

Where the form comes from

The throne chair is one of the oldest pieces of furniture we still use. In the ancient world and through the middle ages, almost everybody sat on benches and stools; a chair with a back and arms was a mark of rank, and a chair raised on a step with a canopy above it was the seat of a bishop or a ruler. The Latin word cathedra, which gave us cathedral, simply means the chair from which authority speaks.

Its visual language was fixed in that period and has barely changed since. Height above all: the back rises well above the head of the person seated, so the silhouette is visible across a hall. Symmetry, because a throne is meant to be seen from the front. Carving and gilding at the crest, where the eye lands. And arms that end in scrolls, paws or volutes, which is where the hands rest and where the workmanship shows.

The Baroque and Rococo took the form and made it theatrical. Seventeenth and eighteenth century Italian, Spanish and Portuguese workshops produced high-backed armchairs with pierced crests, gilded gesso over carved wood and deep upholstery, and it is that vocabulary, rather than the medieval one, that most people picture today. The nineteenth century revived it once more for grand hotels and private salons, and that revival is where most surviving pieces come from.

Where throne chairs are actually used today

The uses have multiplied, and each has slightly different requirements.

Weddings are the largest single use. A pair of high-backed chairs for the couple, placed at the head table or against a floral backdrop, has become a fixture at receptions across Europe, the Middle East and North America. Here the chairs are photographed more than they are sat in, and they are almost always bought in pairs.

Event companies and rental businesses are the buyers behind much of that. For them a throne chair is one of the most reliably requested items in a hire inventory, which is why they buy rather than improvise: two or three seasons of rentals cover the purchase, and the chair remains an asset afterwards.

Photo and portrait studios use them as a fixed set piece. A high back fills a frame, the carving gives the light something to work with, and the seat height puts a subject at a flattering angle.

Hotels, restaurants and bars place single chairs in lobbies, at reception desks or at the head of a private dining room, where one piece with presence does more than a group of ordinary chairs.

Film and television productions need them for court, fantasy and ceremonial scenes, where a single chair has to carry authority in one shot. Our page on film set and gala furniture covers that work in detail.

Private interiors use them as a deliberate accent, usually one chair rather than a pair, in a hall, a library or a dressing room.

Throne chairs at a wedding reception with a Casa Padrino high backed pair in front of a floral backdrop

What separates a real throne chair from a prop

This is the part worth reading before ordering anywhere, because the differences are invisible in a photograph and obvious after a season of use.

The frame carries an unusual load. A throne chair is tall, which means the leverage on the joints where the back meets the seat is far higher than on a normal armchair. On a solid timber frame with proper joinery that is fine for decades. On a frame of stapled board it loosens within a year, and the first sign is a back that rocks slightly when someone leans against it.

It will be carried, constantly. Event chairs are lifted in and out of vans, up steps and across lawns, several times a month. That is a different life from a chair that stands in a living room, and it is the reason we build these on solid mahogany and beech rather than on lighter substitutes.

Stability matters more than on any other seat. A high back raises the centre of gravity. A well built throne chair answers that with weight low down and with a base slightly wider than the seat. A chair that looks right but tips when someone leans sideways is a genuine hazard at an event with several hundred guests.

Gilding is either leaf or it is paint. Real gold leaf is laid over carved and prepared wood and develops depth and slight variation, which is exactly what reads on camera. Sprayed gold paint looks flat under event lighting and rubs through at the arms first, where hands rest.

Upholstery is built up or it is glued on. Layered upholstery over webbing keeps its shape through repeated use; foam bonded to a shell flattens where people sit and cannot be repaired.

Measurements: the questions people forget

More returns happen because of dimensions than because of taste, and with this piece it is always the same three points.

Height against doorways. Throne chairs commonly run between 130 and 190 cm tall. A standard interior door is around 200 cm, which sounds sufficient until the chair has to be tilted to get around a corner, at which point the diagonal matters more than the height. Measure the narrowest point of the route, not just the door.

Width between the arms. Guests wear formal clothing, and a bridal dress needs considerably more width than a suit. For a couple's pair, generous seat width is worth more than an extra ten centimetres of back height.

Seat height and depth. A ceremonial seat is often higher than a dining chair, which looks impressive and can be uncomfortable for a long evening. If the chairs will be occupied for hours rather than photographed for minutes, say so when enquiring and we will point you to the right models.

For transport and storage, a chair that can be shipped with the back detachable is worth asking about, particularly for rental fleets that move stock weekly.

Throne chairs carved crest with gold leaf detail on a Casa Padrino baroque armchair

The range

Our throne and high-backed seating covers several distinct looks, all built on the same construction principles.

Baroque throne chairs in carved wood with gold leaf and velvet, the classical form with a pierced crest
High-backed Chesterfield thrones in genuine buttoned leather, darker and more sober, popular for studios and libraries
Velvet high-back armchairs in single colours, from deep burgundy and emerald to ivory, which photograph cleanly against a floral backdrop
Silver and antique finishes as an alternative to gold, which suits cooler colour schemes
Matching pairs for couples, produced together so the carving and the finish genuinely correspond
Complementary pieces: ornate mirrors, chandeliers and candelabra and consoles and commodes that complete a ceremonial setting

The full selection sits in our baroque armchairs and luxury armchairs categories, alongside Chesterfield furniture for the leather versions.

Materials and craftsmanship

Frames are built in solid mahogany and beech. Carving is done by hand, which is why two chairs from the same model are never quite identical in the crest. Gilding is applied as leaf over prepared gesso rather than sprayed. Upholstery is built up in layers over webbing on a solid frame, in velvet, genuine leather or linen.

Behind that stands long experience with European workshops in Italy, Spain, Portugal and eastern Europe, several of which have produced for us for many years. Where the catalogue does not hold what a project needs, those same workshops build it.

Throne chairs single Casa Padrino high backed armchair placed in a hotel lobby

Buying for a rental fleet or an event business

If you hire furniture out rather than use it yourself, the calculation is different and worth stating plainly. A throne chair pair is among the most frequently requested items in a wedding inventory, and rental income across two to three seasons generally covers the purchase. After that the chairs are an asset that keeps earning, and they can be resold.

Three things matter more for a rental fleet than for a private buyer. Construction, because the chairs are handled constantly. Repeatability, because a fleet needs to be able to add matching pieces in two years, which is why we note the model and finish on every order. And quantity pricing, which we quote as a project rather than per item.

Bespoke production

Dimensions, woods, finishes and fabrics can all be specified. Common requests include a house colour for an event company, a wider seat for bridal use, a lower seat height for long receptions, a specific gilding tone to match an existing set, and larger quantities of a single model.

We also build from a drawing where a project needs a form the catalogue does not contain. For a set or a themed venue that is often the only route, and we do it regularly. What we do not do is copy a protected contemporary design or use another manufacturer's model names.

Delivery and care

Casa Padrino ships worldwide. Throne chairs travel by freight forwarder with a delivery appointment because of their size. Delivery is made kerbside to the given address; carrying the chairs into the building, up stairs or into the room of use is not part of the standard service, so please arrange help on site in advance and check the route before ordering.

Care is straightforward. Dust gilded surfaces with a dry soft brush rather than a damp cloth, because water dulls leaf. Keep velvet out of long direct sunlight, which fades it unevenly. Treat leather once or twice a year with a suitable product. For chairs that travel, padded covers for the crest and arms are worth the small cost, since those are the points that take knocks in a van.

Throne chairs Casa Padrino baroque armchair as a set piece in a photo studio

Why Casa Padrino

Casa Padrino has grown into one of the internationally known names for baroque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and contemporary luxury furniture, with customers in more than fifty countries and a catalogue running into thousands of pieces. In May 2025 our designer Marvin Schertl received the International Design Award for Excellence in Luxury Furniture, presented at a gala dinner in Cannes.

For throne chairs specifically, three things follow from that. We hold stock, which matters when a date is fixed. We build on solid frames, which matters when a chair is carried every week. And we can supply the rest of the setting from the same house, so that mirrors, chandeliers and consoles genuinely match rather than approximately. The full collection is at casa-padrino.de.

Frequently asked questions about throne chairs

How tall is a throne chair?
Ours run roughly between 130 and 190 cm depending on the model. Measure the narrowest point of the delivery route rather than just the doorway, because the diagonal when tilting around a corner is usually the limiting dimension.

Can I order a matching pair?
Yes, and for a couple's setting we recommend it. Pairs are produced together so that the carving and the finish correspond properly, which is not guaranteed if two chairs are ordered months apart.

Are they comfortable enough for a whole evening?
Some models are, some are built more for presence than for hours of sitting. Tell us at the enquiry whether the chairs will be occupied for a long reception or mainly photographed, and we will point you to the right ones.

Is the gold real gold leaf?
On our gilded models, yes, applied as leaf over carved and prepared wood rather than sprayed. It has visible depth and slight variation, which is what reads well under event lighting and on camera.

Are they stable enough for events?
A high back raises the centre of gravity, so we build with weight low down and a base slightly wider than the seat. This is a real difference from decorative copies and worth checking wherever you buy.

Do you supply event and rental companies?
Yes, regularly. Quantities are quoted as a project, and we record model and finish on every order so a fleet can be extended later with genuinely matching pieces.

Can a chair be made in our own colour?
Yes. Fabrics, finishes, gilding tone and woods can be specified, and quantities of one model can be produced together for consistency.

How do I clean and maintain them?
Dust gilding with a dry soft brush, never a damp cloth. Keep velvet out of long direct sun. Treat leather once or twice a year. For chairs that travel, use padded covers on the crest and arms.

Do you deliver worldwide?
Yes. Throne chairs go by freight forwarder with a delivery appointment. Delivery is kerbside to the address given, so arrange carrying help in advance.

Can you deliver in time for a specific wedding or event date?
Usually, if you give us the date at the first enquiry. Stock models are the realistic route for short lead times; bespoke production and larger quantities need to be started considerably earlier.