Armchair, c.1894

Oak, now with late 20th- century leather

This chair was designed by George Walton and probably made by William Birch Ltd. of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It was originally designed for John Rowntree & Sons Café, Scarborough, Yorkshire, and it is named the Abingwood Chair.

Adam Bowett Catalogue 14/08/2012

Description

An arm chair, the back formed of a tapered vertical board centred by a heart-shaped piercing, between flat, outcurved arms. The horsehair seat is raised on square tapered legs joined by high front and back stretchers and lower side stretchers. The front and back stretchers are linked by a pair of additional front-to-back stretchers.

Dimensions

H: 37 ” (94cm) Seat height: 19 1/2 ” (50cm) W: 27 ” ( 68.5 cm) D: 24 ” (61cm)

Designer/Maker

George H. Walton

Materials

Oak, horsehair and other upholstery materials

Construction

The construction of the seat and lower chair appears entirely conventional, with all elements joined with mortise and tenon joints. The chair back is a single piece of oak extending down below the seat and glued to the face of the back stretcher. The arms are screwed and plugged into the back, and supported by extensions of the back legs which are through-dowelled into the arms from below.

Condition

Basically sound. All surfaces re-finished. Some surface abrasions and bruising especially to top of back. Joints between arms and back post repaired. Both arms slightly loose. Upholstery replaced.