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Armchair

Armchair

  • Place of origin:

    Great Britain, UK (made)

  • Date:

    1936 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Eric Ravilious, born 1903 - died 1942 (designer)
    Harris, H. (maker)
    Dunbar Hay Ltd. (commissioned by)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Mahogany, inlaid with box

  • Museum number:

    CIRC.265&A-1948

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

  • Image in copyright

This armchair forms part of a dining suite, the only known furniture designed by Eric Ravilious. He was an artist and illustrator whose paintings included murals for interiors. The chair was commissioned for a new furnishing shop founded by Cecilia Dunbar Kilburn and Athole Hay. Four dining sets with variations were made.

In the 1930s there were still many enemies of the square and sometimes harsh shapes of modernism. Many designers and patrons preferred furniture that had links with the past. This chair is in keeping with the popular Regency revival style of the 1930s. The lines are recognisably those of the English Regency style (about 1810–30), but they are simplified to correspond to 1930s taste.

Place of Origin

Great Britain, UK (made)

Date

1936 (made)

Artist/maker

Eric Ravilious, born 1903 - died 1942 (designer)
Harris, H. (maker)
Dunbar Hay Ltd. (commissioned by)

Materials and Techniques

Mahogany, inlaid with box

Dimensions

Height: 87.5 cm, Width: 53 cm, Depth: 53.2 cm, Height: 47 cm seat rail, Height: 48.7 cm drop in seat

Historical context note

In 1936 Ravilious was commissioned by Lady Sempill of Dunbar Hay and Company to design a table, two arm chairs and two single chairs for a client. Several of these Regency Revival suites were made, but Ravilious designed no other furniture. The Neo-Georgian and other revivals are at present under-represented at the V&A.

Descriptive line

Arm-chair, des. Revilious, made H.Harris for Dunbar Hay, 1936

Materials

Mahogany; Box

Techniques

Inlaid

Collection code

FWK

Qr_O19323
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