The profile and arrangement of components that constitute the back of a chair or settee. Regardless of design, most seat backs have two key components: the horizontal crest rail that forms the top edge of the seat back and the vertical stiles that form the sides of the seat back and may be continuous with the legs.

 

Banister-back chairs

Chair backs have turned banisters or straight, molded balusters mounted vertically in a row between the horizontal rail at the top of the back and either the seat or a horizontal rail at the bottom of the back.

   image of a banister back chair

Splat-back chairs

Chair backs have a flat, central, vertically-mounted support. The splat may be solid, pierced, carved, or composed of multiple pieces of wood in an openwork design.

   image of a splat back chair
           

Shield-back chairs

The outline of the chair back forms a shield shape, with a horizontal top and two curved sides that meet at a point in the center bottom of the back. The interior of the back may contain a series of curved supports mounted between the lower point of the back and the crest rail.

Also called vase-back chairs or urn-back chairs.

   image of a shield-back chair

Square-back chairs

The chair's stiles and crest rail meet at right angles, forming a square or rectangular outline. The interior of the back may contain supports mounted in a grid or other pattern.

    image of a square-back chair
           

Slat-back chairs

Chair backs have a series of flat, horizontal rails mounted between the vertical stiles.

Also called ladder-back chairs, 2-back chairs, 3-back chairs, or 4-back chairs.

   image of a slat-back chair

Wainscot chairs

Chair backs are solid, paneled, and frequently decorated with shallow carving.

Also called panel-back chairs.