Preferred term

X-chair

Definition

Spanish scissor-type chair formed by S-shaped stiles on which the back and arms rest, often decorated with carved marquetry or carved wood. The seat or hip rests on the extension of the uprights, which in Spain is usually mounted in the air, although it can also occupy other parts of the piece of furniture. They were born in the late Middle Ages as an evolution of the traditional scissor chair, and although their origin dates back to Italy, they spread to many other Western countries. They began to be replaced by armchairs, being used mainly by public institutions or in churches. From the 19th century onwards, there was a revival of this model under a traditionalist Spanish consideration.