Armchair thumbnail 1

Armchair

1899-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This chair is a variation of Walton's 'Lovat' chair, which had caned side and back panels instead of wooden slats. The simple heart-shaped motif in mother-of-pearl on the back rail was also part of the Lovat design and is typical of Walton's elegant decorative style.

People
The chair belonged to John Llewellyn, one of Arthur Lasenby Liberty's fellow directors at Liberty's. Llewellyn was a leading light at Liberty's and, after joining the company in 1889, took only three years to become head of the Silk Department. In 1898 he was appointed to the board and was instrumental in commissioning and promoting Liberty's range of Art Nouveau furnishing fabrics.

Design & Designing
Liberty's established its own furniture design studio in 1883 and a workshop in 1887. However, not everything was designed or made in-house. The firm increasingly bought designs from independent artists such as Walton and also continued its relationship with independent manufacturers such as William Birch of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. This chair was made by Birch and the original design is in the Birch records at High Wycombe Public Library.

Time
Chairs with tall backs were a feature of progressive furniture design in the 1890s. It is possible that this taste for height was inspired by the attenuated and elegant forms found in Japanese art. Since the 1870s it had been fashionable to collect prints and artefacts from Japan, and Walton is known to have had his own set of Japanese pattern books.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Walnut, inlaid with mother-of-pearl
Brief description
Walnut armchair inlaid with mother of pearl, designed by George Walton and made for Liberty's by William Birch of High Wycombe. British, 1899-1900.
Physical description
Walnut armchair inlaid with mother-of-pearl
Dimensions
  • Height: 113.5cm
  • Width: 61cm
  • Depth: 65cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 19/05/1999 by LH
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Liberty & Co. bought designs from innovative designers in the popular Arts and Crafts style. This chair was designed by Scottish designer George Walton, who at the time had no showroom in London. It was made for Liberty's by a large firm in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, then the centre of the furniture-making trade.
Object history
Designed by George Walton (born in Glasgow,1867, died in London, 1933); made for Liberty & Co. by the firm of William Birch, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. This chair belonged to John Llewellyn, one of the directors of Liberty's.
Summary
Object Type
This chair is a variation of Walton's 'Lovat' chair, which had caned side and back panels instead of wooden slats. The simple heart-shaped motif in mother-of-pearl on the back rail was also part of the Lovat design and is typical of Walton's elegant decorative style.

People
The chair belonged to John Llewellyn, one of Arthur Lasenby Liberty's fellow directors at Liberty's. Llewellyn was a leading light at Liberty's and, after joining the company in 1889, took only three years to become head of the Silk Department. In 1898 he was appointed to the board and was instrumental in commissioning and promoting Liberty's range of Art Nouveau furnishing fabrics.

Design & Designing
Liberty's established its own furniture design studio in 1883 and a workshop in 1887. However, not everything was designed or made in-house. The firm increasingly bought designs from independent artists such as Walton and also continued its relationship with independent manufacturers such as William Birch of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. This chair was made by Birch and the original design is in the Birch records at High Wycombe Public Library.

Time
Chairs with tall backs were a feature of progressive furniture design in the 1890s. It is possible that this taste for height was inspired by the attenuated and elegant forms found in Japanese art. Since the 1870s it had been fashionable to collect prints and artefacts from Japan, and Walton is known to have had his own set of Japanese pattern books.
Collection
Accession number
W.78-1975

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Record createdAugust 31, 2001
Record URL
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