Settee
1869-1885 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
E.W. Godwin was fascinated by Chinese furniture and based his design for this settee on Chinese low seats with lattice panels in the sides and back. He also used ebonised mahogany to suggest an Asian influence, although the settee was also available in natural mahogany. Godwin originally designed the settee for the Earl of Limerick at Dromore Castle, County Limerick in about 1869, and there are several surviving examples. One settee, now in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, belonged to the actor Ellen Terry, with whom Godwin lived for seven years. Many of Godwin's designs for furniture were manufactured by William Watt and Co., 21 Grafton Street, London, who advertised the settee in their catalogue Art Furniture in 1877, at a price of £10. 10s. 0d (£10-50p).
Returned from loan to Bodelwyddan Castle, National Portrait Gallery, Rhyl, May 2017.
Returned from loan to Bodelwyddan Castle, National Portrait Gallery, Rhyl, May 2017.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Mahogany, ebonised; brass; modern silk |
| Brief description | Settee, designed by Edward William Godwin, made by William Watt & Co.; probably made in London, 1869-1885 |
| Physical description | The settee has an ebonised square section frame with a rectangular back and seat, curved arms and four legs fitted with brass castors. The back, divided into three upholstered panels, and the seat are covered in modern pink fabric. The arm supports are filled with pierced geometric panels and fitted with turned arm rests. Similar turned finials are fitted on the top of the back legs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by members of the Handley-Read family in memory of Charles and Lavinia Handley-Read |
| Object history | This is one of a number of examples of this design, in mahogany and in ebonised mahogany, which survive. Godwin's original design was for a settee for Dromore Castle c. 1867-9 and the settee was illustrated in William Watts' Art Furniture, 1877, pl. 15, price £10. 10s. As part of the request for long loan of the settee to Bodelwyddan Castle, Wales, in 1988 it was agreed that the existing modern yellow velvet top cover be removed and a pink floral patterned silk substituted. This upholstery was carried out by Albert E. Chapman Ltd under the supervision of the architect Roderick Gradidge and the costs borne by Clwyd County Council. Acquisition Registered File: 70/3528 |
| Summary | E.W. Godwin was fascinated by Chinese furniture and based his design for this settee on Chinese low seats with lattice panels in the sides and back. He also used ebonised mahogany to suggest an Asian influence, although the settee was also available in natural mahogany. Godwin originally designed the settee for the Earl of Limerick at Dromore Castle, County Limerick in about 1869, and there are several surviving examples. One settee, now in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, belonged to the actor Ellen Terry, with whom Godwin lived for seven years. Many of Godwin's designs for furniture were manufactured by William Watt and Co., 21 Grafton Street, London, who advertised the settee in their catalogue Art Furniture in 1877, at a price of £10. 10s. 0d (£10-50p). Returned from loan to Bodelwyddan Castle, National Portrait Gallery, Rhyl, May 2017. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.16-1972 |
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| Record created | August 23, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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