Chair
1898-1899 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A version of this chair was first shown at the German Art Exhibition in Dresden in 1899. Richard Riemerschmid designed it for a Music Room exhibited by the Munich Vereinigte Wekstätten (United Workshops). A similar chair was shown the following year at the International Exhibition in Paris.
The department store, Liberty's, bought a number of these elegant but strongly designed chairs at about that time, including this one. They remained in use in the shop in London until at least the 1950s. Liberty's own workshops produced a version of the chair, but it was stockier than the original.
The extreme simplicity and strength of this chair illustrate Riemerschmid's interest in functionalism. This led him later to become an influential figure in the development of modernism.
The department store, Liberty's, bought a number of these elegant but strongly designed chairs at about that time, including this one. They remained in use in the shop in London until at least the 1950s. Liberty's own workshops produced a version of the chair, but it was stockier than the original.
The extreme simplicity and strength of this chair illustrate Riemerschmid's interest in functionalism. This led him later to become an influential figure in the development of modernism.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Walnut and leather upholstery |
| Brief description | Walnut and leather chair designed by Richard Riemerschmid, Germany 1898-1899 and made by Liberty. |
| Physical description | A chair of carved walnut, with seat upholstered in leather. The legs and back uprights are of square-sectioned wood, but slightly tapered and shaped. A strong diagonal stretcher rises from the base of each of the front legs and is jointed into the broad, plain back rail, which is slightly curved in plan and with rounded corners. Each stretcher is attached to the seat rail by a screw from the inside. The seat panel, of plain leather, is outlined with large stud nails. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by the maker |
| Summary | A version of this chair was first shown at the German Art Exhibition in Dresden in 1899. Richard Riemerschmid designed it for a Music Room exhibited by the Munich Vereinigte Wekstätten (United Workshops). A similar chair was shown the following year at the International Exhibition in Paris. The department store, Liberty's, bought a number of these elegant but strongly designed chairs at about that time, including this one. They remained in use in the shop in London until at least the 1950s. Liberty's own workshops produced a version of the chair, but it was stockier than the original. The extreme simplicity and strength of this chair illustrate Riemerschmid's interest in functionalism. This led him later to become an influential figure in the development of modernism. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.859-1956 |
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| Record created | November 27, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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