Dental chair, England, 1880-1910

Plush velvet upholstered seating, cast iron feet and a separate rubber footrest make up this fully adjustable dental chair. As specialized furniture, dental chairs symbolized the emergence of dentistry as a separate profession. The quality of the chair also suggests wealthy clientele were willing to pay for dental services. The first reclining chair was invented in 1832 by London dentist James Snell.