Open armchair
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (London 1828 - Birchington 1882)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1865 - 1880
Materials
Ebonised beech, rush
Measurements
86.5 x 48 x 51 cm
Order this imageCollection
Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
NT 1214045
Summary
An ebonised rush-seated open armchair, designed by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and retailed by Morris & Co., circa 1865-1880. With an arched toprail and nine-spindle lyre-shaped splat raised on an arched cross-bar, all flanked by square slightly tapered uprights with finials, the arms raised on front turned posts, standing on turned legs joined by multiple stretchers. The range of rush-seated ebonised chairs introduced by Morris & Co. from circa 1865 and known as 'Sussex' chairs, were enormously popular and emulated by many other firms. This particular variant, called the 'Rossetti' armchair, is said to have been designed by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-82).
Full description
Morris & Co. Founded in 1861 as Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., the firm was soon referred to as Morris & Co., although the name was not officially adopted until 1875 when William Morris (1834-1896) became sole proprietor. Responsibility for the design of almost all commissioned furniture passed to Philip Webb, whose influence was enormous, and (from 1880) his assistant George Jack, while Morris produced designs for glass, tapestries and any painted furniture. From 1871 wallpapers, designed by Morris, became an important part of the business. Show rooms in Oxford Street were acquired in 1877. Greater commercial success in the 1880s led to the opening of a shop in Manchester in 1883. Some of the well-known interior schemes undertaken by Morris include Rounton Grange in Yorkshire, Old Swan House in Chelsea, Great Tangley Manor in Surrey, Wightwick Manor, Bullers Wood and Standen.
Makers and roles
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (London 1828 - Birchington 1882), designer Morris & Co., manufacturer
References
Andrews, John - Arts and Crafts Furniture, ACC 2005, plate 12 and 13 Parry, Linda (ed) 'William Morris', V&A Exhibition catalogue 1996, plate J 25