I was recently talking to the Rector at St Christopher's Church, Haslemere, when I mentioned the church's Arthur Romney Green altar chair I did not anticipate her response. Apparently the chair is extremely uncomfortable to sit in, and she refuses to sit in it for that very reason! That knowledge has made me feel a little disappointed in the craftsmanship and it raises the question of form over function.
I have quite a few pictures of Arthur Romney Green chairs. It is interesting to look at these and not just admire their forms but also to wonder on how they may feel to sit in.
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| Sanctuary chair (oak) for St Christopher's Church, Haslemere by Arthur Romney Green from Art Workers' Quarterly Volume 4, Issue 13, January 1905 (p.45) |
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| Walnut Chair convertible into Table by Arthur Romney Green from Art Workers' Quarterly Volume 4, Issue 13, January 1905 (p.45) |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair which converts into a table from Elkin, Susan, Life to the Lees: A Biography of Arthur Romney Green, The Cromwell Press Limited, 1998 |
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| Dining Room Chairs in Spanish chestnut by Arthur Romney Green from Art Workers' Quarterly Volume 4, Issue 13, January 1905 (p.45) |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum |
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| Ceremonial chair by Arthur Romney Green, Christchurch Priory from Elkin, Susan, Life to the Lees: A Biography of Arthur Romney Green, The Cromwell Press Limited, 1998 |
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| Arm Chair of English Oak, with Laced Leather Seat, designed and made by Arthur Romney Green, Art Journal, November 1906 |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair and table for sale at Haslam & Whiteway Ltd |
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| Arthur Romney Green chairs from Elkin, Susan, Life to the Lees: A Biography of Arthur Romney Green, The Cromwell Press Limited, 1998 |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair, photograph held at the National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum |
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| Arthur Romney Green chair National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum |
The Millinery Works describe the chair below as "A rare oak Capstan armchair of exposed dowel construction, with chamfered legs and splats, profusely carved to the edges of the seat and to the splats with signature diamond motif carving, by Arthur Romney Green, circa 1925. 75.5cm (30in) high. See similar chair in The Studio 1924 p 101."
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| Arthur Romney Green chair for sale The Millinery Works Art Gallery |
The Antiques Atlas describes the stool below as: "Elm and oak stool attributed to Arthur Romney Green, of carved and joined construction, displaying great sculptural form and presence. It shows signs of once having an upholstered seat but is now fitted with a green leatherette loose seat pad which works very well. Of good mellow colour, circa 1920."
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| Arthur Romney Green stool sold at Antiques Atlas |
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| Arthur Romney Green stool sold at Antiques Atlas |
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| Set of 6 Arthur Romney Green chairs with original leather seats for sale at Patch Rogers |
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| Detail from set of 6 Arthur Romney Green chairs with original leather seats for sale at Patch Rogers |
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| Arthur Romney Green spindle back oak chair with thronged leather seat pair for sale at the sale room |
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| from Elkin, Susan, Life to the Lees: A Biography of Arthur Romney Green, The Cromwell Press Limited, 1998 |
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| School oak armchair by Arthur Romney Green for sale for £1,595 at Antiques Atlas |
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| School oak armchair by Arthur Romney Green for sale for £1,595 at Antiques Atlas |
From experience (! having sat on a lot of Hall Chairs at auctions in my time), the first examples shown with the flat square seats would have been purgatory to sit on. In fact, the idea of the Hall Chair was to encourage visitors NOT to stay too long). The dished seats would have been more comfortable, but tbh, it is the angle of the back which makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteI sat in a lovely old low back Windsor chair this week and it felt made to measure . . . the angle was just right and it almost hugged you.
Sadly, I think with the ARG chairs, form came before function . . .
Thanks so much for your blog posts - always so very interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteYes having looked at the chairs again I agree Bovey Belle, they were probably all pretty uncomfortable.
I like the idea of a Hall Chair being made to be uncomfortable. I guess it would have been quite sly to make an altar chair purposefully uncomfortable...
Nice articles and your information valuable and good articles thank for the sharing information leatherette chair
ReplyDelete