Aesthetic Movement – Walnut Lyre Back Chair with Button Seat (c.1890)
£1,400
This walnut side or bedroom chair belongs to the Aesthetic Movement (1860–1900), exemplifying the period’s refinement of classical motifs through linear simplicity and handcrafted detail. The upright back is centred by a carved lyre-shaped splat, a motif associated with harmony and artistic balance, framed between plain uprights with a stepped top rail.
The seat retains its original buttoned upholstery, the fabric aged but intact, illustrating the movement’s preference for tactile natural materials. Turned stretchers reinforce the frame and add a subtle rhythm to the form. The front legs taper gently, their slender profile echoing the vertical emphasis of the design.
Produced circa 1890, the chair reflects the later phase of the movement, when classical allusion merged with a modern domestic sensibility.
Width: 17.72 in (45 cm)
Depth: 15.75 in (40 cm)
1890-1899
