Otto Eckmann originally trained as an artist and began designing furniture, lighting, ceramics and textiles in 1894. He was one of a group of German designers commissioned by the French entrepreneur Siegfried Bing to design furniture, including this armchair, for the ‘Art Nouveau Bing’ pavilion at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900. The combination of naturalistic carved panels and geometric details on the arms is typical of Art Nouveau’s German equivalent, Jugendstil.
Physical description
Armchair of carved beech, stained red; the seat, back and portion of the arms are covered with cut and stained leather. The solid leather back is decorated with a conventional owl above with spread wings, and with tulips below bound together by ribbons; at the top of either side of the back is a projecting leather cushion, each decorated with an owl. The remaining leather work is ornamented with borders of long wavy leaf-like forms with leaves at the angles. The flat arms rest on prolongations of the front legs. The upper part of the arm-rests and the front rail of the seat are carved with flowering stems. The back and front legs are joined by two rails which in turn are connected by another rail.
Place of Origin
Paris, France (made)
Germany (made)
Date
1900 (made)
Artist/maker
Eckmann, Otto, born 1865 - died 1902 (designer)
Bing, Siegfried, born 1838 - died 1905 (manufacturer)
Materials and Techniques
Beech, stained red, and cut and stained leather upholstery (copy of original)
Dimensions
Height: 95 cm, Width: 71 cm, Depth: 56 cm
[Seat cover] Height: 56 cm, Width: 47 cm
[Armchair back] Height: 55 cm, Width: 55 cm
[Armchair side panel] Height: 19 cm, Width: 27 cm
Descriptive line
[Seat cover] Leather seat-cover, decorated with borders of long wavy leaf-like forms of leaves at the angles, made by Siegfried Bing, designed by Otto Eckmann, Germany, ca. 1900.
[Armchair back] Leather back, decorated with borders of long wavy leaf-like forms of leaves, made by Siegfried Bing, designed by Otto Eckmann, Germany, ca. 1900.
[Armchair side panel] Leather side-panel, decorated with borders of long wavy leaf-like forms of leaves, made by Siegfried Bing, designed by Otto Eckmann, Germany, ca. 1900.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Greenhalgh, Paul Ed., Art Nouveau : 1890 - 1914. London: V&A Publications, 2000. 464 p., 19.7pl, ill. ISBN 1851772774
Donaldson, George, The Victoria and Albert Museum. Gift of "New Art" Furniture for Circulation. The Magazine of Art, 1901, pp. 466-471 (illus.)
Exhibition History
Art Nouveau (National Gallery of Art, Washington 08/10/2000-28/01/2001)
Art Nouveau - 1890-1914 (Victoria and Albert Museum 06/04/2000-30/07/2000)
Labels and date
ARMCHAIR
2009-1900
'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'
Eckmann, trained as a painter, was one of the most prolific and influential German designers from about 1895. He contributed to such avant-garde magazines as Pan and Jugend. This chair was shown in Bing's pavillion at the Paris 1900 Exhibition, a reminder of the international spread of Bing's patronage.
Given by Sir George Donaldson [1987-2006]
Materials
Leather; Beech
Techniques
Carving; Staining; Upholstery
Subjects depicted
Ribbon; Owl; Tulip
Categories
Furniture; Leather
Collection code
FWK
