Chair
after 1872 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This chair bears a stamp with the maker's name and the date of 21 May 1872. This refers to the patent number, 127,045, that the firm had taken out for a 3-ply veneer chair seat. The firm of Gardner and Co. was active from 1863 to about 1887. It manufactured plywood seat furniture on a vast scale, establishing a new industry.
This chair is a typical Gardner product. It is comparable to examples that were shown at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Gardner's selling agents, Hutchins & Mabbett, advertised it as the strongest chair made for its weight. They recommended it highly as a church, Sabbath school or reception chair. In 1875 it cost $3.25.
This chair is a typical Gardner product. It is comparable to examples that were shown at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Gardner's selling agents, Hutchins & Mabbett, advertised it as the strongest chair made for its weight. They recommended it highly as a church, Sabbath school or reception chair. In 1875 it cost $3.25.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Walnut frame, moulded and perforated plywood seat and back panel, stained mahogany-colour, with decorative brass nails |
| Brief description | Chair, manufactured by Gardner & Company, moulded, 3-ply stained birch plywood seat and back, walnut frame, brass nails, New York or New Jersey, after 1872 |
| Physical description | Chair, the frame of turned and joined walnut, the seat continuous with the back and made of 3-ply birch plywood perforated with a neo-gothic pattern. Stained mahogany red all-over. Two sets of nails of different sizes, the ones of the chair back are smaller and bifurcated, those on the seat are larger and flatter but we cannot see if they too are bifurcated. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Gardner's Patent May 21st 1872' (Makers's mark of Gardner & Co who were active from 1863 to about 1887 and manufactured plywood seat furniture on a vast scale. The date refers to patent no. 127,045 for a three-ply veneer chair seat. This chair must thus date from 1872.) |
| Gallery label |
|
| Summary | This chair bears a stamp with the maker's name and the date of 21 May 1872. This refers to the patent number, 127,045, that the firm had taken out for a 3-ply veneer chair seat. The firm of Gardner and Co. was active from 1863 to about 1887. It manufactured plywood seat furniture on a vast scale, establishing a new industry. This chair is a typical Gardner product. It is comparable to examples that were shown at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Gardner's selling agents, Hutchins & Mabbett, advertised it as the strongest chair made for its weight. They recommended it highly as a church, Sabbath school or reception chair. In 1875 it cost $3.25. |
| Associated object | B.89-2014 (Object) |
| Bibliographic reference | Wilk, Christopher. Plywood: A Material Story. London: Thames & Hudson / V&A, 2017
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.7-1986 |
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 | June 1, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
