Not currently on display at the V&A

Armchair

1902 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sir Edwin Lutyens was a designer as well as an architect. He designed this chair in 1902 for Edward Hudson, who was the editor of Country Life magazine. He based his design on standard vernacular (or country) ladder-back chairs that were made in Lancashire and Cheshire in the 18th century. The chair was made in High Wycombe, a centre of traditional furniture making. Lutyens also designed a house for Hudson: Deanery Garden in Berkshire. This large half-timbered house was built between 1899 and 1902. He used the same chair design in another house, Little Thakeham in West Sussex, in 1902.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Ash, with rush seat
Brief description
Armchair, des. Lutyens, made Skull, High Wycombe, 1902
Physical description
Ladder-back armchair with four shaped back supports. Turned legs and stiles; flat-topped arms, seven stretchers; pad front feet. Rush seat
Dimensions
  • Height: 97.8cm
  • Width: 64cm
  • Depth: 55cm
Gallery label
  • ARMCHAIR ENGLISH; 1902 Ash with a rush seat Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) Probably made by Skull of High Wycombe. This design was made for Deanery Gardens, Sonning, Berkshire, the house Lutyens designed and built in 1899-1902 for Edward Hudson, the editor of Country Life. Lutyens sent the design for this chair to the firm of Skull in January 1902. Chairs of the same type were also provided for the Lutyens house at Little Thakeham in Sussex, also in 1902.(pre October 2000)
  • 18 ARMCHAIR 1902 Lutyens originally designed this armchair for the dining room at Deanery Gardens, Sonning, Berkshire. His client was Edward Hudson, the editor of the magazine Country Life. Lutyens revived the traditional ladder-back form used on country chairs and included more decorative turned front legs. [43 words] Ash with rush seat Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (born in London, 1869, died in London, 1944); probably made by Walter Skull of High Wycombe, Berkshire Museum no. W.5-1990(01/10/2008)
Object history
This model was made for Deanery Garden, Sonning, Berkshire, a great half-timbered house which Lutyens designed and built between 1899 and 1902 for Edward Hudson, the editor of the influential magazine 'Country Life'. Lutyens had this chair made in High Wycombe, a centre of traditional furniture making and used this model in another house, Little Thakeham, also in 1902. Its design is derived from the standard type of eighteenth century ladder-backs made in Lancashire and Cheshire.

[Gareth Williams, 'British Design at Home', p.100]
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Summary
Sir Edwin Lutyens was a designer as well as an architect. He designed this chair in 1902 for Edward Hudson, who was the editor of Country Life magazine. He based his design on standard vernacular (or country) ladder-back chairs that were made in Lancashire and Cheshire in the 18th century. The chair was made in High Wycombe, a centre of traditional furniture making. Lutyens also designed a house for Hudson: Deanery Garden in Berkshire. This large half-timbered house was built between 1899 and 1902. He used the same chair design in another house, Little Thakeham in West Sussex, in 1902.
Collection
Accession number
W.5-1990

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Record createdMarch 9, 2000
Record URL
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