A field guide toChairs Left Outside

Identification

Key to the seats

Every entry in the guide belongs to one of ten kinds. Most can be told apart at a glance; for the rest, start at the first couplet below and follow whichever description fits, until you arrive at a plate.

Dichotomous key

  1. 1a.Seats more than one person, side by sidego to 2

    1b.Seats one persongo to 3

  2. 2a.Upholstered, with a back and armsSofa · Pl. VIII

    2b.Hard surface, often slatted, usually fixed to the groundBench · Pl. VII

  3. 3a.Far larger than a person, or plainly a monumentThrone, giant or sculpture · Pl. IX

    3b.Of ordinary sizego to 4

  4. 4a.No backStool · Pl. VI

    4b.Has a backgo to 5

  5. 5a.Mounted on castorsOffice chair · Pl. III

    5b.Without wheelsgo to 6

  6. 6a.Folds flat, or has a fabric sling seatFolding or deck chair · Pl. V

    6b.Rigidgo to 7

  7. 7a.Molded from a single piece of plasticPlastic patio chair · Pl. IV

    7b.Not molded plasticgo to 8

  8. 8a.Upholstered, with armsArmchair · Pl. I

    8b.A wooden or metal frame, made to sit at a tableDining or kitchen chair · Pl. II

A seat that fits none of these is placed, provisionally, under Other seat · Pl. X.

Pen-and-watercolor illustration of a faded floral armchair left on a suburban curb in autumn, with a sparrow perched on its back, fallen leaves at its feet, and houses and a mailbox behind.

Plate I

Armchair

Genus Cathedra

Field marks
  • Upholstered seat and back
  • Padded arms
  • Heavy for its size; one person can rarely carry it far
  • Often floral or plaid, and frequently waterlogged
Habitat
Curbside, especially at the end of the month. Also vacant lots.
Not to be confused with
Sofa (seats two or more); Throne, giant or sculpture (larger, and seldom upholstered)
Species
C. marginalis · C. hortensis · C. litoralis · C. silvestris · C. campestris · C. tectorum · C. fluvialis · C. ruderalis · C. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Rarely moves far once outdoors. Most specimens are observed within a few yards of the house they came from.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate II: Dining or kitchen chair (illustration to come)

Plate II

Dining or kitchen chair

Genus Sedile

Field marks
  • Four legs and a back, usually without arms
  • Wooden, metal or vinyl seat
  • Built to be drawn up to a table
  • Often one of a matching set
Habitat
Curbside, parks and gardens.
Not to be confused with
Stool (has no back); Folding or deck chair (folds flat)
Species
S. marginale · S. hortense · S. litorale · S. silvestre · S. campestre · S. tectorum · S. fluviale · S. ruderale · S. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Typically observed alone. The rest of the set is seldom recorded.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate III: Office chair (illustration to come)

Plate III

Office chair

Genus Rotasella

Field marks
  • Castors, usually five
  • Swivels on a single central column with a gas lift
  • Mesh or fabric back, often with adjustable arms
  • Frequently missing a castor
Habitat
Vacant lots and industrial sites; curbside near offices after a move.
Species
R. marginalis · R. hortensis · R. litoralis · R. silvestris · R. campestris · R. tectorum · R. fluvialis · R. ruderalis · R. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Unmistakable in the field. On a slope, it can travel short distances unaided.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate IV: Plastic patio chair (illustration to come)

Plate IV

Plastic patio chair

Genus Monosella

Field marks
  • Molded from a single piece of plastic
  • Arms continuous with the seat and back
  • Stackable
  • Usually white; occasionally green, gray or brown
Habitat
Beaches, gardens, rooftops and balconies. Found on every inhabited continent.
Not to be confused with
Folding or deck chair (folds; this does not)
Species
M. marginalis · M. hortensis · M. litoralis · M. silvestris · M. campestris · M. tectorum · M. fluvialis · M. ruderalis · M. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Probably the most widely distributed seat on Earth. Hardy; tolerates sun, salt and neglect.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate V: Folding or deck chair (illustration to come)

Plate V

Folding or deck chair

Genus Plicosella

Field marks
  • Folds flat along one or more hinges
  • Fabric sling or slatted seat
  • Scissor or X-shaped frame
  • Light enough to carry under one arm
Habitat
Beaches, rooftops and balconies; parks after an event.
Not to be confused with
Plastic patio chair (rigid, molded plastic); Dining or kitchen chair (does not fold)
Species
P. marginalis · P. hortensis · P. litoralis · P. silvestris · P. campestris · P. tectorum · P. fluvialis · P. ruderalis · P. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Often observed partly folded, in an attitude of indecision.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate VI: Stool (illustration to come)

Plate VI

Stool

Genus Scabellum

Field marks
  • No back
  • Three or four legs, or a single pedestal
  • Tall (bar stool) or low (step or milking stool)
  • Seat round or square
Habitat
Woodland and curbside.
Not to be confused with
Dining or kitchen chair (has a back)
Species
S. marginale · S. hortense · S. litorale · S. silvestre · S. campestre · S. tectorum · S. fluviale · S. ruderale · S. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

The simplest seat, and easily overlooked.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate VII: Bench (illustration to come)

Plate VII

Bench

Genus Scamnum

Field marks
  • Seats several people side by side
  • Long seat of slatted wood, metal, stone or concrete
  • Usually fixed to the ground
  • May bear a memorial plaque
Habitat
Parks, waterside paths and roadsides.
Not to be confused with
Sofa (upholstered)
Species
S. marginale · S. hortense · S. litorale · S. silvestre · S. campestre · S. tectorum · S. fluviale · S. ruderale · S. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Most specimens were installed deliberately and do not move. A plaque, where present, should be recorded in the natural history.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate VIII: Sofa (illustration to come)

Plate VIII

Sofa

Genus Lectus

Field marks
  • Upholstered
  • Seats two or more
  • Back and arms, with cushions that are often detached
  • Sometimes a sleeper or a recliner
Habitat
Curbside and vacant lots; occasionally woodland, for reasons that are not understood.
Not to be confused with
Armchair (seats one); Bench (hard, and usually fixed)
Species
L. marginalis · L. hortensis · L. litoralis · L. silvestris · L. campestris · L. tectorum · L. fluvialis · L. ruderalis · L. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

The largest seat commonly encountered at the curb. Seldom observed for more than a few days.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate IX: Throne, giant or sculpture (illustration to come)

Plate IX

Throne, giant or sculpture

Genus Solium

Field marks
  • Unusually large, ornate, or plainly ornamental
  • Built in place, of stone, metal, wood or concrete
  • Often signposted
  • Not designed to be comfortable
Habitat
Fields, parks and roadside attractions.
Not to be confused with
Armchair (ordinary size); Bench (seats several at ordinary scale)
Species
S. marginale · S. hortense · S. litorale · S. silvestre · S. campestre · S. tectorum · S. fluviale · S. ruderale · S. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Includes the several largest chairs in the world, each of which disputes the title.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first

Plate X: Other seat (illustration to come)

Plate X

Other seat

Genus Sedes

Field marks
  • Can be sat on, but keys out nowhere else
  • Includes rocking chairs, swings, car seats, beanbags and chairs in trees
Habitat
Any.
Species
S. marginalis · S. hortensis · S. litoralis · S. silvestris · S. campestris · S. tectorum · S. fluvialis · S. ruderalis · S. incertae sedisnamed for their habitat

Placed provisionally, incertae sedis, pending further observation.

Not yet recorded in the guide.Report the first