Sussex chair, William Morris; Morris, Marshal, Faulkner & Co.

Artwork Overview

1834–1896
Sussex chair, circa 1870
Where object was made: England, United Kingdom
Material/technique: ebonized beech wood; plant fiber
Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 85.1 x 49.3 x 41.9 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 33 1/2 x 19 3/8 x 16 1/2 in
Credit line: Museum purchase: Friends of the Art Museum
Accession number: 1976.0027
Not on display

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Images

Label texts

Empire of Things

As an English textile designer and artist, William Morris’s design philosophy championed the handcraft production and aesthetic merit of goods. The simple yet elegant shapes of this chair eschewed the contemporary trend of excess ornament and shoddy mass-produced goods churned out by the technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution. The design was suited for a skilled craftsman rather than a steam-powered machine. The woven seat evokes the humble materials of its country prototype, a chair found in the county Sussex and made by a rural craftsman.

Exhibitions

Kris Ercums, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
2013–2015
Beverly Joyce, curator
Jean Rosenthal, curator
1997–1998
Kris Ercums, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
2013–2015
Kris Ercums, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
2016–2021
Kris Ercums, curator
Kate Meyer, curator
2016–2021

Resources

Audio

Hear a SWMS student's perspective.
Audio Tour – Bulldog Art Tour
Hear a SWMS student's perspective.
Audio Tour – Bulldog Art Tour