Hooded Chair
ca. 1890 - 1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This hooded chair was almost certainly made in Kirkwall by David Kirkness. The hooded chair was the most expensive of Kirkness's four chair types. The box beneath the seat, sometimes with a plain panel instead of a drawer, was seen in many Orkney chairs in the nineteenth century, but the hooded top was more unusual.
Originally designed to offer warmth, the hooded chair appealed to turn-of-the-century romanticism about the Scottish Islands as much as practical utility. This chair was one of a pair that belonged to the Welsh painter Augustus John (1878-1961). When acquired by the museum its drawer contained Volume II of Songs of the Hebrides, a song book published in 1917, further emphasising the chair's romantic associations.
Originally designed to offer warmth, the hooded chair appealed to turn-of-the-century romanticism about the Scottish Islands as much as practical utility. This chair was one of a pair that belonged to the Welsh painter Augustus John (1878-1961). When acquired by the museum its drawer contained Volume II of Songs of the Hebrides, a song book published in 1917, further emphasising the chair's romantic associations.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Back: straw (probably black oat) sewn with bent grass. Seat: rush over pine. Handle: cast brass |
| Brief description | Orkney hooded armchair, white pine and straw sewn with bent grass and rush, probably by David Kirkness, Orkney, ca. 1900 - 1920 |
| Physical description | Orkney hooded armchair. The back of the chair consists of straw, probably black oat, sewn with bent grass. The seat is rush over pine and the handle is made of cast brass. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | 'Hooded Chair'
1890s
Designed and almost certainly made by David Kirkness (1855 - 1936)
Orkney Islands (Kirkwall)
Made before 1936
Frame: white pine
Back: straw (probably black oat) sewn with bent grass
Seat: rush over pine
Handle: cast brass
Formerly owned by the painter Augustus John
Museum no. W.1-2012
This was the most expensive of Kirkness's four chair types. The box beneath the seat, sometimes with a plain panel instead of a drawer, was seen in many Orkney chairs in the 19th century, but the hooded top was more unusual.
Designed to offer warmth, the hooded chair appealed to turn-of-the-century romanticism about the Scottish Islands as much as practical utility.(01/12/2012) |
| Object history | Formerly owned by the painter Augustus John. |
| Summary | This hooded chair was almost certainly made in Kirkwall by David Kirkness. The hooded chair was the most expensive of Kirkness's four chair types. The box beneath the seat, sometimes with a plain panel instead of a drawer, was seen in many Orkney chairs in the nineteenth century, but the hooded top was more unusual. Originally designed to offer warmth, the hooded chair appealed to turn-of-the-century romanticism about the Scottish Islands as much as practical utility. This chair was one of a pair that belonged to the Welsh painter Augustus John (1878-1961). When acquired by the museum its drawer contained Volume II of Songs of the Hebrides, a song book published in 1917, further emphasising the chair's romantic associations. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.1-2012 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 24, 2012 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
