- Sold Seating
- Small Orkney Chair
Small Orkney Chair
Small Orkney Chair
A classic pine straw back Orkney chair, c early 1900s. Stained pine frame with carved detail to the arms, pine straw back rest (oat grass sewn with bent grass) and a woven removable rush seat. In good original condition.
A true design classic, the Orkney chair with it’s distinctive straw back was one of the icons of the Arts and Crafts movement. Produced in the workshops of the Orkney Islands (Scotland), they were retailed by Liberty & Co.
Note these chairs are small. They were traditionally made in either gentlemen, ladies or childrens size. This one is a small version of the traditional ladies size. Dimensions: H84cm, W54cm, D54cm, H33cm (to seat)
A classic pine straw back Orkney chair, c early 1900s. Stained pine frame with carved detail to the arms, pine straw back rest (oat grass sewn with bent grass) and a woven removable rush seat. In good original condition.
A true design classic, the Orkney chair with it’s distinctive straw back was one of the icons of the Arts and Crafts movement. Produced in the workshops of the Orkney Islands (Scotland), they were retailed by Liberty & Co.
Note these chairs are small. They were traditionally made in either gentlemen, ladies or childrens size. This one is a small version of the traditional ladies size. Dimensions: H84cm, W54cm, D54cm, H33cm (to seat)
Orkney straw chairs have been made on the Orkney Islands of Scotland for generations. In May 1890 a local Kirkwall joiner, David Kirkness, was invited to exhibit two of his traditional straw chairs as part of the Scottish Home Industries Association display at the Scottish International Exhibition in Edinburgh. The chairs generated widespread interest, particularly amongst followers of the Arts and Crafts movement. And so the traditional straw chair became the fashionable Orkney chair. They were very popular, and by 1909 Liberty of London were selling over 40 chairs a month. They are made in three sizes: a gentleman, ladies and children chair, and were offered as hooded or non-hooded versions. The tradition of Orkney chair making continues today, and they are highly collectible. The older, and hooded versions are the most sought after.