Armchair
William Morris and Co.
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1880
Materials
Mahogany, crewelwork, trim
Measurements
97 x 62 x 43 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Wightwick Manor, West Midlands
NT 1288169
Summary
A pair of mahogany dressing elbow chairs, British, of early Georgian style, manufactured and retailed by Morris & Co., circa 1880, each with a shaped and waisted backrest and with 'shepherd's crook' arms, an oval seat, the seat rail with a small nub at the front, on four tapering legs terminating in pad feet, the legs joined by a shaped crinoline-stretcher, one upholstered in floral crewel work with pink trim, the other with white patterned fabric. These chairs are based on early Georgian dressing chairs. An example of the form of chair they would have been based on is illustrated in Adam Bowett's 'Early Georgian Furniture, 1715-1740', p.188, plate 4.91.
Provenance
In 1937 Sir Geoffrey Mander and his wife Rosalie gifted Wightwick Manor, its contents and gardens to the National Trust. Sir Geoffrey and his family continued to occupy and manage Wightwick adding to the collection in collaboration with the National Trust. Sir Geoffrey died in 1962 but Lady Mander continued to live at Wightwick until her death in 1988. These chairs are listed in the Wightwick Manor 1937 inventory.
Makers and roles
William Morris and Co., manufacturer