Lot 373
GEORGE WALTON (1867-1933) FOR MISS CRANSTON'S BUCHANAN STREET TEAROOMS
SCARCE EBONISED ARMCHAIR, CIRCA 1890
Auction: 1 April 2020 at 11:00 BST
Description
with original painted floral and foliate decoration, the curved back with caned panel above later upholstered drop in seat, lifting to reveal a caned seat below, raised on ring-turned and tapering legs
Dimensions
58cm wide, 86cm high, 49cm deep
Footnote
Literature: Moon, K. George Walton, White Cockade 1993, p.53, pl. 62
Note: This chair was made for Miss Cranston's new tearoom in Buchanan Street in Glasgow in 1896. Walton designed a tall side chair, a low side chair and an armchair for these rooms, each with hand-painted floral sprigs following the colour scheme of the walls which were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The curved form of the chair continues the 'Glasgow Style' Art Nouveau aesthetic, whilst the Regency inspiration which the design subverts is still evident. Other versions of the armchair were used by Walton in schemes throughout his career (for example in the drawing room at Elm Bank), but only the Buchanan Street chairs are marked out by their painted floral decoration.