Armchair, c.1886-1914

Ash and rush

This chair was designed by Philip Clissett with James MacLaren and made at Clisset’s workshops in Bosbury, Herefordshire between 1886 and 1914.  It was previously attributed to Ernest Gimson.

Adam Bowett Catalogue 14/08/2012

Description

An armchair, c.1900. The tall, slightly splayed back has five graduated shaped and curved splats, between finialled posts of circular section. The flat, curved arms are raised on turned and tapered supports; the rush seat is raised on turned and tapered legs joined by paired turned stretchers.

Dimensions

H: 45 ” (115cm) Seat height: 17” (43cm) W: 23 ¼ (59cm) D: 24 “ (61cm)

Designer/Maker

Ernest Gimson, to a design developed by Philip Clisset

Materials

Ash and rush

Dating Criteria

Gimson learned to make this type of chair in the 1890s.

Construction

The rear post are turned and steam bent to create a rake in the back; the splats are cleft and bent and tenoned into the uprights. The arms are crudely dowelled into the uprights and pinned and they rest on dowels extending from the top of the front posts. The seat rails are roughly shaped and dowelled into all four posts, they are staggered so that the side rails are slightly higher than the front and back rail. The stretchers are dowelled all round.

Condition

Condition is excellent. No breaks, no damage, rush seat possibly original.

Additional remarks

Gimson was taught to make this type of chair by Philip Clisset, a traditional chairmaker working in Bosbury, Herefordshire.

References

Mary Greensted, Gimson and the Barnsleys, Stroud (1980).

Provenance

Purchased Paul Reeves, January 2001