Dressing Table and Stool thumbnail 1
Not on display

This object consists of 10 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Dressing Table and Stool

1916 (made)
Artist/Maker
Charles Rennie Mackintosh (designer)
Place of origin
Isle of Man (made)

Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928), was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and became a leading architect of the Glasgow School. The dressing table and stool come from a suite of furniture made for Mr and Mrs Sidney Horstmann of Bath. The couple commissioned Mackintosh to renovate some of the rooms in their house in 1917. The suite made for the Horstmanns replicated that created the previous year for the guest room in the house of one of their friends, Mr W. J. Bassett-Lowke of 78 Derngate, Northampton.

The furniture was constructed by Prisoners of War on the Isle of Man in 1917.

Object details

Categories
Furniture
Scotland
Object type
Dressing table and stool
Parts
This object consists of 10 parts.

  • Dressing Table
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Top
  • Top
  • Keys
  • Stool
  • Drop-in Seat
Materials and techniques
Mahogany inlaid with mother-of-pearl, with aluminium mounts, on an ebonised base
Mahogany
Mother of Pearl
Aluminium
Ebonising
Brief description
Dressing table and stool; mahogany inlaid with mother of pearl; designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, made by Prisoners of War on the Isle of Man, 1916
Physical description
Dressing table and stool, part of suite; mahogany, inlaid with mother-of-pearl with aluminium backings to drawer handles and mirror, ebonised base.
Dimensions
  • Dressing table (589.1) height: 173cm
  • Dressing table (589.1) width: 108.7cm
  • Dressing table (589.1) depth: 51.7cm
  • Dressing table depth: 51.7cm
  • Stool and drop in seat (589 a b) height: 46.5cm (Note: Approx. overall height of stool with drop-in seat.)
  • Stool and drop in seat (589 a b) diameter: 36.4cm (Note: Overall diameter of stool.)
  • Stool (589 a) height: 43.9cm
  • Stool (589 a) diameter: 36.4cm
  • Drop in seat (589 b) diameter: 35.2cm
  • Drop in seat (589 b) height: 4.2cm
Measured by Max Donnelly at BH.
Gallery label
(1989-2006)
DRESSING TABLE
Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (British, 1868-1928)
Probably made by German craftsmen interned as enemy aliens on the Isle of Man
Mahogany inlaid with mother of pearlt and aluminium
1917

This was originally designed for the guest bedroom, 78 Derngate, Northampton, the home of Mr and Mrs W.J. Bassett-Lowke. However, this piece comes from an identical suite made for Mr Sidney Horstmann of Bath, a friend of the Bassett-Lowkes. An armchair from the same suite is shown nearby. The bedroom at Derngate was redesigned in 1919 and the furniture replaced.

Circ.589-1966
Object history
Designed originally for J Bassett-Lowke for 78 Derngate, Northampton and this dressing table designed made for Sidney Horstmann of Bath.

This piece was recorded at Bethnal Green Museum, 1968
Association
First World War
Summary
Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928), was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and became a leading architect of the Glasgow School. The dressing table and stool come from a suite of furniture made for Mr and Mrs Sidney Horstmann of Bath. The couple commissioned Mackintosh to renovate some of the rooms in their house in 1917. The suite made for the Horstmanns replicated that created the previous year for the guest room in the house of one of their friends, Mr W. J. Bassett-Lowke of 78 Derngate, Northampton.

The furniture was constructed by Prisoners of War on the Isle of Man in 1917.
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
CIRC.589 to B:1 to 8-1966

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Record createdFebruary 7, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O131454/dressing-table-and-charles-rennie-mackintosh/
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