What Are Dining Chairs with Arms Called?

Dining chairs with arms go by several names, which causes plenty of confusion when you are trying to buy a set. In Britain they are usually called carver chairs, a term that comes from the person who carved the joint at the head of the table rather than from any decorative woodwork. Elsewhere the same chair is described as a host chair, a captain's chair or simply a dining armchair. This guide explains where each term comes from, how carvers differ from side chairs in width and construction, and how related styles such as tub chairs, Windsor armchairs and ladderbacks fit into the picture. It also covers the practical questions that matter more than terminology: whether the arms will clear your table, how many carvers a set really needs, how to mix them with armless chairs, and which materials suit different rooms and different households, from timber frames in a farmhouse kitchen to wipe clean finishes around young children....