Lot 197
RHODA GARRETT (1841-1882) AND AGNES GARRETT (1845-1935)
RARE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT CHAISE LONGUE, CIRCA 1875
Estimate: £800 - £1,200
Auction: Lots 1 to 336 | 16th October at 10am
Description
mahogany with upholstery and loose squab cushion
Dimensions
57.5cm wide, 94cm high, 130cm long
Footnote
Literature: The Furniture History Society: British and Irish Furniture Makers Online (bifmo.furniturehistorysociety.org)
Note: Rhoda and Agnes Garrett were trailblazers in British interior design, becoming the first women to establish their own firm, R. & A. Garrett House Decorators, in 1874. Originally working as a governess and housekeeper, they began their careers with apprenticeships under Jean McKean Brydon in the London office of Cottier & Co. After completing their three-year training, they embarked on a tour of English country houses, which informed their design aesthetic, giving them the confidence to start their own business in London.
The Garretts’ firm offered interior design services and created furniture, wallpapers, and textiles. Their designs reflected principles of the Arts & Crafts Movement, emphasizing the use of authentic materials and craftsmanship. Their 1876 book Suggestions for House Decoration in Painting, Woodwork, and Furniture was aimed at middle-class households, promoting the idea that "every material has in itself a beauty," encouraging natural aesthetics rather than imitation.
Their most notable clients included James and Margaret Beale, for whom they designed pieces for their home at 32 Holland Park. These pieces, including the daybed of the same design as the current lot, were later moved to the Beales' country house Standen, which remains a National Trust property (see NT 1214057). The Garretts also worked on the homes of notable family members, including Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Millicent Garrett Fawcett, pioneers in medicine and suffrage, respectively.
The sisters were committed to advancing women's rights, particularly through their involvement in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Agnes served as the joint honorary secretary of the Central Committee of the National Society for Women’s Suffrage in 1872, actively advocating for women’s right to vote. Rhoda was also a powerful public speaker, delivering speeches at meetings and rallies. In one of her speeches in 1876, she emphasised the role of women in improving household art, arguing that through their contributions to home design, women could positively impact society. Their activism extended beyond suffrage; Agnes trained female apprentices in her design firm, providing women with professional opportunities in a field that had traditionally excluded them. Through their work and activism, the Garrett cousins played a pivotal role in promoting both gender equality and women's rights in the professional and domestic spheres.
After Rhoda’s death in 1882, Agnes continued the firm, managing a skilled team of workers and training apprentices, including women, which was uncommon at the time. She exhibited her designs at major events like the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1888, further cementing the Garretts’ influence.
Their contribution to furniture design is regarded as significant due to its focus on craftsmanship and accessibility for the middle class, and their pioneering role as women in business and design. Through their work and activism, they left an enduring legacy in both the design world and the women's rights movement.
