Voysey’s preferred material for furniture was unstained and unpolished oak. He did however specify other materials when he felt them appropriate, in particular, if the other furniture in the house was of a differing material or when specified by a client. He reiterated this to Arthur Simpson of Kendal in 1909 stating that “You must have oak everywhere or nowhere. I will not be a party to the mixture.”
A scarce example of his work in mahogany was a commission from the painter Edward Hughes who asked Voysey to design a corner sideboard for his house at 7, Lodge Place in St. John’s Wood in 1898. Voysey obtained quotations for the piece from Frederick Coote in mahogany and deal and mahogany was chosen. Other examples include a fitted scheme in mahogany for Leslie Paton at 29 Harley Street, London in 1919, although no records are known for moveable furniture.
LOT 58 | CHARLES FRANCIS ANNESLEY VOYSEY (BRITISH 1857-1941) | SIDE CHAIR, CIRCA 1904 | Sold for £6,930*
An entry in Voysey's black book a G.W. Glynn at 8 Netherhall Gardens in 1910 includes a music cabinet and other unspecified 'furniture'. Lots 58 and 59 (illustrated here) were presumably from a similar commission where mahogany was the more appropriate material.
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