Oliver Velvet Office Chair: Rocking Back, Wooden Arms, 150kg Rated
By Furniture1002 min read
The Oliver is the softest looking chair in our office range and one of the most solidly specified. Velvet over foam, rubber wood armrests, a backrest that rocks, and a load rating of 150kg on a five-claw base with copper castors. It is sold as an office chair and it works as one, but it is just as often bought for a dressing table or a reading corner.
What it is
The seat and back are foam over velvet, quilted, with a medium rocking backrest that gives when you lean and returns when you sit up. The armrests are rubber wood with a painted finish, which is the detail that makes the chair look vintage rather than corporate, and which wipes clean.
The base is a five-claw swivel on copper-coloured castors, and the whole chair adjusts for height on a gas lift. The stated figures:
| Overall size | 62cm x 61cm, height 90cm to 98cm |
| Seat height | 45cm to 53cm |
| Maximum load | 150kg |
| Chair weight | 12kg |
Who it suits
Someone who wants a desk chair that is comfortable to sit in for a long stretch and does not look like it came from a stationery catalogue. The 150kg rating is higher than most chairs at this size, which matters if the chair will be sat in all day.
The wooden arms are the thing to check. They are firm, not padded, and they are what stop the chair tucking under a desk with a low front rail. Measure the underside of your desk against a seat height of around 45cm plus the arm.
It is also the chair we see bought for bedrooms and dressing tables, where the velvet and the wood suit the room and the rocking back is a pleasure rather than a feature.
Brown or black
Brown is the warmer of the two and the one that reads as vintage, particularly against the wooden arms. Black is sharper and suits a room with black metal or a dark desk. The arms and base are the same on both.
Living with it
Assembly is described as a few simple steps. Vacuum the velvet with a soft brush, blot spills rather than rubbing, and wipe the arms with a damp cloth. On a hard floor, the castors are worth checking against the surface.
Find yours
Free UK delivery and 30-day returns.
See the Oliver in brown or black. If you like velvet but want a lower, armless chair, the Sterling chesterfield is the other velvet in the range. Or read how to choose a home office chair that looks like furniture and browse the office chairs.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Oliver chair?
The stated overall size is 62cm long by 61cm wide, with the height adjusting between 90cm and 98cm. The seat height adjusts between 45cm and 53cm, which covers most desks.
How much weight does the Oliver take?
The stated maximum load is 150kg. The chair itself weighs 12kg, so it is solid without being a struggle to move.
Does the Oliver recline?
The backrest rocks back and forth rather than locking at an angle. It is a gentle lean for a break between tasks, not a recliner.
Are the armrests padded?
No. They are rubber wood with a painted surface, which is what gives the chair its vintage look and makes them easy to wipe. If you want soft arms, the Denton or the Aston are padded.
Is velvet a sensible fabric for a desk chair?
It is warmer to sit on than mesh or faux leather and it hides wear better than a flat fabric. It wants a vacuum with a soft brush now and then and a blot rather than a rub for spills.
