Christopher Dresser for Art Furniture Alliance – Aesthetic Movement Low Chair
POA
Dr Christopher Dresser made by Art Furniture Alliance. An Egyptian Revival Aesthetic Movement low chair with deeply incised and gilded decoration. Circa 1881–83.
Dresser founded The Art Furniture Alliance in 1880 to supply “whatever is necessary to complete artistic furnishing of a house”, where Dresser was employed as art director. The shareholders were: Harrison (Linthorpe), Chubb, Dixon and Arthur Lazenby Liberty. The furniture AFA produced was made at Chubb’s workshops. AFA went into liquidation in 1883 and their stock was auctioned off. It is most likely that Arthur Liberty, who had 50 shares in AFA, bought much of the stock from the liquidation auction and probably why this early AFA low chair is stamped Liberty & Co Regent St.
An identical chair held in the Birkenhead Collection is illustrated in: Michael Whiteway, Christopher Dresser 1834–1904, pg 157 plate 184. Images attached.
The same chair held in the Birkenhead Collection is illustrated in: Harry Lyons, The People’s Designer, pg 143 plate 259. Images attached.
Christopher Morley, Dresser’s Decorative Design. pg 250 figure 531. Where there is a period photo from the Chubb archive Circa 1881. Images attached.
Seat Height: 10.43 in (26.5 cm)
Width: 20.28 in (51.5 cm)
Depth: 24.02 in (61 cm)
1880-1889
