Armchair
ca. 1909 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This armchair is one of a set of twelve designed by the architect and designer Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (1857-1941). The chairs were made in about 1909 for the offices of the Essex and Suffolk Equitable Insurance Company which were then located in Capel House, 54-60 New Broad Street, London. The initials of the firm are decoratively arranged within a circle on the leather upholstery on the front of the chair back.
The chair's tall back with uprights extending above the top rail is typical of chair designs by Voysey. Also typical is the use of subtle curves, such as those found on the front seat rail and top rail of the back. The overall simplicity of the chair's form reflects the pared-down nature of Voysey's designs, a principle he applied to all disciplines including his architectural work.
The chair's tall back with uprights extending above the top rail is typical of chair designs by Voysey. Also typical is the use of subtle curves, such as those found on the front seat rail and top rail of the back. The overall simplicity of the chair's form reflects the pared-down nature of Voysey's designs, a principle he applied to all disciplines including his architectural work.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Oak with leather upholstery |
| Brief description | Armchair, British, 1909, designed by C.F.A. Voysey |
| Physical description | The four legs are rectangles, trimmed at the corners so that the feet are irregular octagons. The seat rails are rectangular on the outside apart from that in front which is shaped in a shallow double curve The seat is upholstered in leather fastened by a thickly packed row of round head nails, it is sprung and rises to a low mound in the centre. The armrests are thin at the back but curve outwards towards the front. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | E & S I (Leather stamped with monogram (Essex and Suffolk Equitable Insurance).) |
| Gallery label | ARMCHAIR
Designed by C.F.A. Voysey (British, 1857-1941), 1906
Oak, upholstered in leather
1909
One of a set of twelve made for the boardroom of the Essex and Suffolk Equitable Insurance Company whose monogram it bears. The interiors of their offices at Capel House, 54-56 New Broad Street, London EC2 were furnished to Voysey's designs between 1906 and 1909.
Given by Messrs Chase, Henderson and Tennant
Circ.517-1954(1989-2006) |
| Credit line | Given by Messrs. Chase, Henderson and Tennant |
| Summary | This armchair is one of a set of twelve designed by the architect and designer Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (1857-1941). The chairs were made in about 1909 for the offices of the Essex and Suffolk Equitable Insurance Company which were then located in Capel House, 54-60 New Broad Street, London. The initials of the firm are decoratively arranged within a circle on the leather upholstery on the front of the chair back. The chair's tall back with uprights extending above the top rail is typical of chair designs by Voysey. Also typical is the use of subtle curves, such as those found on the front seat rail and top rail of the back. The overall simplicity of the chair's form reflects the pared-down nature of Voysey's designs, a principle he applied to all disciplines including his architectural work. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.517-1954 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | November 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
