E. W. Godwin for William Watt, Anglo-Japanese Walnut Armchair with Spindle Back
Price on Application
This item is price on application due to its rarity and importance.
1880-1889
About this piece
Edward William Godwin (1833-1886) for William Watt, this Anglo-Japanese armchair in walnut aligned to the Aesthetic Movement (c.1860 to c.1900), c.1880s.
The chair has a high open back with a shaped crest rail and Japanese style cloud frieze, above a finely spaced arrangement of vertical spindles. Larger turned uprights are set within the back, giving the design depth and rhythm.
The arms sweep forward from the rear uprights in a broad curve and finish with rounded fronts, supported by turned and incised front posts. Beneath each arm is a side gallery of five vertical spindles set between the arm rail and lower rail, repeating the language of the back on a smaller scale. The seat sits within a rectangular walnut frame and has later red upholstery with braid edging.
The lower frame is joined by stretchers to the front, sides and back, with a turned front stretcher echoing the detail of the uprights. The result is a refined open-framed armchair, with the design carried through proportion, line and carefully placed spindle work.
A similar cane seat and back armchair with an ‘Heirloom’ enamel label (William Watt’s representatives) underneath the seat was purchased by Tony Geering and Martin Wolfson from an auction by Warren and Wignall auctioneers in Leyland. UK in the early 2000’s. Now in a private collection, and is now in a private collection.
