Lot 449
A Scottish Arts and Crafts oak settle
Designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and dated 1892,
Auction: 29 September 2001 at 12:00 BST
Description
made by Wheeler's of Arncroach, the top rail carved with initials DPC and JAC centred by the date, above three panel back, the centre panel inlaid with decorative roundel depicting a bird in a tree, above solid hinged seat enclosing void, and solid panelled sides and arms, the front with marquetry panel inlaid with rabbits being chased by a hound, on sled feet
168cm wide, 129cm high
Footnote
Provenance:
By descent from Sir David and Janet Chalmers. Janet was Robert Lorimer's sister.
Note: The settle and chest offered for sale were designed by Robert Lorimer for his sister Janet. They constitute part of a group of furniture designed by Lorimer in a self-consciously Arts and Crafts manner in the last decade of the 19th century.
This furniture was mostly made by William Wheeler, the master of a small cabinet making firm in Arncroach in Fife. Arncroach was the nearest village to Kellie Castle, Lorimer's parents' house and one of his great inspirations, and he clearly felt it was appropriate he should be using these local joiners to make his Arts and Crafts furniture. The marquetry panels were apparently made by Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh.
Lorimer had exhibited a highly commended blanket chest made by Wheeler, with a lifting lid and single drawer with inlaid frieze, at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition in London in 1893. The same exhibition included a walnut armoire, also inlaid, but made by Morison & Co of Edinburgh, which was finished in their typical sophisticated and polished manner. This had apparently also been made for Janet.
The settle is directly comparable to one made for RWR Mackenzie of Earshall, and dated 1893 (Earlshall sale Christie's 14 September 1983 lot 382, offered for sale Phillips Edinburgh 26 August 2000 lot 751). Lorimer had been restoring the ruined 17th century tower of Earlshall, at Leuchars in Fife, since 1890, having left Bodley's office in London and returned to Scotland in order to do it. It was one of his most romantic restorations, for which he provided a range of furniture in an Arts and Crafts or slightly self-consciously vernacular manner.
The Studio critic when writing for the exhibition of 1896 sung the praises of Lorimer's earlier work, recounting that 'the furniture designed by [him] at the last exhibition was so good that this time one refers to his contributions with some degree of certainty that they will be admirable'. Certainly, the oak furniture made by Wheeler in the last decade of the 19th century is amongst some of the most charming of Lorimer's output. There are several pieces still at Kellie from this period which incorporate similar marquetry panels. The 1896 Exhibition included an oak chest with a marquetry scene of a hunstman and his hounds, which is broadly identical to that used on Janet's chest, and also on the dresser made for Earlshall.
References:
Lindsay Macbeth 'The Wheelers of Arncroach; A Family of Furniture Makers in Fife' Regional Furniture V 1991
Peter Savage Lorimer and the Edinburgh Craft Designers London 1980