E. W. Godwin Attributed, Made by William Watt, Aesthetic Cane Seat Side Chair
Price on Application
This item is price on application due to its rarity and importance.
Width: 15.59 in (39.6 cm)
Depth: 16.61 in (42.2 cm)
1880-1889
About this piece
Attributed to E. W. Godwin and probably made by William Watt, this side chair in oak and cane aligns to the Aesthetic Movement (c.1860 to c.1900), c.1880.
The chair has a square cane seat set within a moulded wooden frame, above turned front legs with ringed collars, rounded knops and tapered lower sections. The side construction is unusually lively, with turned cross stretchers forming bold X-shaped bracing, each side centred by a turned boss. The shaped rear legs rise into the back uprights and are united at the rear by an upper turned stretcher and a lower flat stretcher.
The angular backrest is inset with radiating turned spokes, each meeting a central circular disc carved with a spiral detail. This gives the chair a strong wheel-like rhythm, balancing geometric structure with decorative movement. The turned front legs are similar to those on a Godwin smoking chair illustrated by Soros.* The radiating theme of the backrest is also reminiscent of Godwin’s side tables, where radiating stretchers unite around a central upright.**
There is also a sketch for a side chair with a semi-circular splat and radiating spokes to the back, illustrated by Soros.***
REFERENCES / PROVENANCE
* Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, page 120, illustration 152.
** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, pages 148, 149, 150, 151, 152 and 153.
*** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, page 109, illustration 131.
Additional Measurements
Seat Height: 43cm / 16.93"
