What have I got here exactly?

by D.George
(Brooklyn, NY)

antique chair #1 or 2

My travels through Brooklyn, NY (where I live) often take me past a used furniture and antique dealer's "space" where a portion of his inventory is on display outdoors (in good weather) and I saw these two green leather armchairs with nailhead trim "out in the yard) and when I sat on them I was quite amazed! ( I bought them immediately) They are so very comfortable.

Just what I needed, but not what I expected.

They are for my living room and that would have been the end of the story....but....after I cleaned them up (wiped of the dust and started inspecting them more closely) I was interested in the history behind these chairs...for instance..the material used to finish the underside of the seat cushions is held in place with strange nails not staples or glue...and the nail head decorations are individually placed as well, not glued on....and then on top of that..these chairs are very heavy..perhaps 35 or 40 pounds each.....so my question is...what have I got here exactly?