| In this next article in our series on the history of chairs | | | | that work. So in a sense, 19th century chair design |
| we're going to pick up with chairs made in the 19th | | | | actually took a step backwards. |
| century. | | | | During this period, many other craftsmen followed in |
| To understand the dramatic change in chair design in | | | | Morris' footsteps. Many of them worked to refine their |
| the 19th and 20th centuries one first has to understand | | | | skills for very low wages simply so that they could get |
| the arts and crafts movement of the 19th century. This | | | | the work. A guild society of these workers was |
| movement was almost solely responsible for the | | | | formed so if someone wanted a hand made chair |
| change in chair styles. | | | | they knew where to go as the society itself was very |
| Arts and crafts, for starters, are things that are | | | | well promoted. |
| generally made by ones own hands, or as we call | | | | The materials used for these chairs varied greatly. The |
| them today, hand made. This was a very big thing, | | | | more important part was not so much what the chairs |
| starting in the 19th century, that things of quality had to | | | | were made of but how they were made and how |
| be made by hand. In spite of the industrial revolution | | | | they looked, always trying to strive for that medieval |
| where items were now made mostly by machine, the | | | | appearance. |
| chairs that truly defined the period were actually made | | | | Eventually, however, these "artists" could no longer |
| by hand. | | | | compete with the industrial revolution and these hand |
| This movement was said to be started by William | | | | made chair makers started to slowly disappear. By the |
| Morris and Edwin Lutyens. William Morris lived from | | | | early 1900s most of them were long gone. |
| 1834 to 1896. He was one of the principal founders of | | | | When the 20th century hit, with it hit an increasing use |
| the British Arts and Crafts movement. In 1861 he | | | | of technology in the construction of chairs. We saw |
| founded Morris, Marshall and Faulkner. This company, | | | | the introduction of all metal folding chairs, which are still |
| which eventually became Morris and Company, | | | | popular today for bringing to the beach or putting out in |
| recreated some of the medieval tapestry made for | | | | the backyard. |
| chairs of that period. His designs are still sold even | | | | The 20th century also saw the appearance of the |
| today under the name Sanderson and Sons who | | | | slumber chair, molded plastic chairs and ergonomic |
| bought the license from him. | | | | chairs. By the 1960s the styles of chairs had literally |
| Lutyens came a little bit later. He lived from 1869 to | | | | exploded. We had everything from the butterfly chair, |
| 1944. He began his own business in 1888. His first | | | | beanbag chairs and the egg or pod chair. Because of |
| commissioned works were for private houses. He | | | | the advances in technology we had molded plywood |
| would design most of the furniture in these houses | | | | and laminated wood chairs. We also had chairs made |
| including the chairs, all in a very classical style similar to | | | | of leather or polymer. Today, if you can pretty much |
| the works of Morris. Both of these men believed that | | | | visualize a chair design most likely somebody has |
| medieval craftsmen found a joy in their work that was | | | | made it. |
| missing in today's designs and they strove to emulate | | | | Yes, we have come a long way. |