E. W. Godwin Attributed, Aesthetic Movement Walnut Armchair with Green Leather

Attributed to E. W. Godwin, this armchair in walnut and green leather aligned to the Aesthetic Movement (circa 1860 to 1890), c.1880. The chair has horizontal supports to the back, framed within the side uprights, with the back supports and legs curving gracefully from top to bottom and the arms are spliced seamlessly into the upper side supports and identical to the William Watt armchair.*

Below the arms, the simple spacing of the side stretchers unites with a turned and incised upright arm support. This combination of turned and square supports are very reminiscent of Godwin’s designs particularly the use of turned and square supports that unite together seen on the old English and Jacobean armchair. **

The front legs are turned and incised, terminating on brass and ceramic castors. This armchair particularly the back layout is reminiscent to a design for a chair reproduced in William Watt’s Art Furniture.*** The framing of horizontal back supports is also used across other Godwin chair designs.****

References / Provenance

*Related William Watt armchair, Puritan Values image reference supplied in source text.

** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, illustrations 108, 112, 113.1, 115, 116, 123, 124 and 181.

*** William Watt, Art Furniture from Designs by E. W. Godwin and Others, Plate 3. Also referenced in Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, p. 121, illustration 155.

**** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, illustrations 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 125, 140, 140-a, 141-1 and 162.

Additional Measurements:

Arm height: 60.2cm / 23.70"

Seat height: 40.5cm / 15.94"