Chair thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Chair

1925 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This small cane chair was made by an 8 year old boy at school in 1925 in Kenya. These two objects have a strong object history with a hand written label attached to the chair, which tells us that the child received a packet of sweets as a reward for making the chair and was pleased with the result. The chair was given to his mother as a gift as the end of term.

The maker of the object, Llewellyn Bramwell Lewis Evans (born 1917), was a talented artist and sold some paintings during his lifetime, as well as managing his fathers farm near Nyeri.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cane
Brief description
Chair, cane, made by Llewellyn Evans, Kenya, 1925.
Physical description
A small chair made from cane. The material is left untreated and is brown in colour. The chair has a square base which is solid on the exterior but hollow inside. The sides and back of the chair are woven with a gap in between showing a pattern.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
  • Width: 18cm
  • Depth: 14cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
'This cane chair was made by me in 1925 in Standard 1, Nairobi School. Miss Shelton was the class teacher who called me up to her house when she gave me a packet of sweets as a reward. I suppose and I dare say I had some help from Miss Shelton but I do not recall receiving a lot. My memories of it were that I was very keen on making the chair and I also remember being pleased with the result. I gave it to my mother at end of term as I did with the kettle holder which I made at much the same time. (signed) L.B.L. Evans / 28th December 1989' (Written on a label attached to the chair in fading pen)
Credit line
Given by Ann Skelton
Object history
This chair was made by Llewellyn Bramwell Lewis Evans in 1925, when he was 8 years old. He was born in Kenya and went to Nairobi School. His family lived in Kent for a short time before returning to Kenya. He had a sister called Margaret, who was younger than himself. His father managed a farm at Makuyu before moving to his own dairy farm near Nyeri. His mother ran a nursing home on the farm. Llewellyn was known as 'Billy' as a child then always 'Bill' afterwards. He lived to the age of 90 and emigrated with his family to Wales in 1960. There, he managed a branch of a security firm before working with one of his greatest interests, antiques. In his later years he ran his framing business and was still doing some commissions until he was about 85. He was a talented artist, selling some of his paintings, and could turn his hand to several crafts. The chair was donated to the Museum by his daughter, Ann Skelton.
Summary
This small cane chair was made by an 8 year old boy at school in 1925 in Kenya. These two objects have a strong object history with a hand written label attached to the chair, which tells us that the child received a packet of sweets as a reward for making the chair and was pleased with the result. The chair was given to his mother as a gift as the end of term.

The maker of the object, Llewellyn Bramwell Lewis Evans (born 1917), was a talented artist and sold some paintings during his lifetime, as well as managing his fathers farm near Nyeri.
Collection
Accession number
B.321-2010

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Record createdJanuary 25, 2011
Record URL
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