British 1920-25 des. and man. Dryad

Cane armchair. There is a diamond pattern woven into the back.

Purchased by the V&A in 1984 from Mollie Evans [84/633]. On entry to the Museum, its condition was noted as 'pretty good'.

At the urging of Benjamin Fletcher, Head Master of Leicester School of Art, former bookseller Harry Peach established the Dryad firm as a manufacturer of cane furniture in 1907. The venture (which would also include metalwork and handicrafts) was infused with the ideals the Arts and Crafts movement (mainly through the writings of Fletcher's friend, W.R. Lethaby) and aimed to improve the level of design and manufacture of British cane furniture, with progressive German and Austrian designs as the paradigm. The German manufacturer of Richard Riemerschmid's designs, Reimann of Dresden, provided much inspiration. It was Fletcher, rather than Peach, who designed most of the early furniture.

This model appears in Dryad's 1928 catalogue, priced at £2 7s 6d.

W.27-1984