Miniature Seating Furniture
1860-1880 (Made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This group of miniature furniture comprises a centre sofa (circular ottoman), a chaise longue (French term for an elongated chair), two armchairs and two footstools.
They were given to the V&A by the daughter of an upholsterer named Albert Bentley. The museum was keen to accept them because of the difficulty of finding full-sized pieces of this type which had retained their original upholstery. Unlike most full-sized nineteenth-century seats they have never been reupholstered and so preserve their original fashionable crimson upholstery and deep buttoning.
Bentley had been employed by various firms from about 1860 and worked at Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House. He probably made these objects to demonstrate his skill, and they were displayed in a glass case in his London home.
They were given to the V&A by the daughter of an upholsterer named Albert Bentley. The museum was keen to accept them because of the difficulty of finding full-sized pieces of this type which had retained their original upholstery. Unlike most full-sized nineteenth-century seats they have never been reupholstered and so preserve their original fashionable crimson upholstery and deep buttoning.
Bentley had been employed by various firms from about 1860 and worked at Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House. He probably made these objects to demonstrate his skill, and they were displayed in a glass case in his London home.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 6 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | The centre sofa (circular ottoman) and armchair have softwood and mahogany frames and brass feet. Their original upholstery is of glazed linen and wadding under upholstery, with silk damask and trimmings |
| Brief description | Six items of miniature seating furniture, comprising a centre sofa (ottoman), a chaise longue, two armchairs and two footstools. |
| Physical description | Six models of seating furniture, comprising a centre sofa (ottoman), a chaise longue, two armchairs and two footstools. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | Models of a buttoned centre sofa (ottoman) and an armchair
About 1860–80
Made by Albert Bentley (1842–1928)
England (probably London)
Frames: softwood and mahogany
Feet: brass
Upholstery (original): glazed linen and wadding under upholstery, with silk damask and trimmings
Given by Miss F. Bentley
Museum no. W.13&B-1934
These seats were made by an upholsterer who worked for various London firms from about 1860. He probably made them as a demonstration of his trade skills and knowledge. Unlike most 19th-century seats they have never been reupholstered and so preserve the original appearance of fashionable buttoning.
(01/12/2012) |
| Credit line | Given by Miss F. Bentley |
| Object history | The Director of the Museum Sir Eric MacLagan decided that this suite ‘should be temporarily exhibited in the North Court of the Museum in connection with the Exhibition of the work of William Morris now being held there; as they would illustrate typical furniture of the period when he [Morris] was himself attempting to furnish his first house on very different lines’ (Letter to Miss F. Bentley, 28 February 1934). |
| Summary | This group of miniature furniture comprises a centre sofa (circular ottoman), a chaise longue (French term for an elongated chair), two armchairs and two footstools. They were given to the V&A by the daughter of an upholsterer named Albert Bentley. The museum was keen to accept them because of the difficulty of finding full-sized pieces of this type which had retained their original upholstery. Unlike most full-sized nineteenth-century seats they have never been reupholstered and so preserve their original fashionable crimson upholstery and deep buttoning. Bentley had been employed by various firms from about 1860 and worked at Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House. He probably made these objects to demonstrate his skill, and they were displayed in a glass case in his London home. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.13-1934 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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