Chair
1922-1950 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This mobile chair with integral feeding tray is for use by a small child who is not yet fully walking. It is probably a 'Little Buffer' chair, the design of which was patented by the Baby Scooter Car Co in 1922, but any original maker's marks have been obliterated in the re-painting. The donors used it for their children, Mary, Merilyn, Roger and Bridget, who were born between 1943 and 1956; the chair may have been acquired second-hand because such items were scarce during World War Two and its aftermath, and repainted at that time ('Little Buffer' chairs were made in a dark wood stain and varnished), or during the course of its thirteen or so years of usage..
The inclusion of a head and shoulders image of the Walt Disney cartoon and comic character Donald Duck is likely to be an attempt at producing something cheering in a time of austerity. Donald was created by the Disney artist Dick Lundy and first appeared in 1934.
The inclusion of a head and shoulders image of the Walt Disney cartoon and comic character Donald Duck is likely to be an attempt at producing something cheering in a time of austerity. Donald was created by the Disney artist Dick Lundy and first appeared in 1934.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wood with rubber and metal parts |
| Brief description | Mobile chair for a young child, probably a 'Little Buffer' patented in the UK by the Baby Scooter Car Co in 1922 |
| Physical description | Child's low wooden armchair re-painted in pale blue paint and mounted on three rubber rimmed wheels, the central one slidable on a separate forward axis. It has an enclosed back and sides, and a hinged oblong feeding tray which has been hand-painted with a head and shoulders motif of Donald Duck wearing his trademark sailor blouse and hat. The tray drops over the front of the chair and has a hinged drop leg with metal hooks and loops to hold it in position. There are two small metal clasps within the seat to hold retaining straps (now missing). |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | Given by Mr & Mrs C E Turner |
| Object history | Gift of Mr & Mrs C E Turner (RF 83/956). Used by the donors' children Mary Elizabeth (born 28/04/1943); Merilyn (sic) Kay (born 22/02/1945); Roger Edwin (born 02/06/1949); Bridget June (born 13/06/1956), all of whom were born and brought up in Totteridge, north London. |
| Production | Probably a 'Little Buffer' patented by the Baby Scooter Car Co in 1922 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This mobile chair with integral feeding tray is for use by a small child who is not yet fully walking. It is probably a 'Little Buffer' chair, the design of which was patented by the Baby Scooter Car Co in 1922, but any original maker's marks have been obliterated in the re-painting. The donors used it for their children, Mary, Merilyn, Roger and Bridget, who were born between 1943 and 1956; the chair may have been acquired second-hand because such items were scarce during World War Two and its aftermath, and repainted at that time ('Little Buffer' chairs were made in a dark wood stain and varnished), or during the course of its thirteen or so years of usage.. The inclusion of a head and shoulders image of the Walt Disney cartoon and comic character Donald Duck is likely to be an attempt at producing something cheering in a time of austerity. Donald was created by the Disney artist Dick Lundy and first appeared in 1934. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.280-1987 |
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| Record created | January 22, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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