An early pair of Morris Marshall Faulkner & Co ‘Sussex’ rush-seated armchairs in turned and ebonised Ash. In lovely original condition, the ebonised frames rubbed back in places to reveal the richly patinated wooden frame. The original rush seats to be replaced.

The design is widely attributed to Philip Webb in the early 1860s, manufactured by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. and later produced by Morris & Co. into the twentieth century.

The name ‘Sussex’ chair can be attributed to Morris’s biographer J.W. Mackail who commented that the chair was adapted from a country chair found in Sussex. Black or red Sussex chairs were used in Morris’s first family home Red House.

Provenance: Richard & Hilary Myers collection.

Literature:

Linda Parry (edited), William Morris 1834-1896, Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition catalogue, page 160 figure 74 for the range illustrated from Morris & Co's catalogue.

Anna Mason (edited), William Morris, Thames & Hudson, page 199 figure IX.12 for a comparable example illustrated.The original rush seats to be replaced.

The name ‘Sussex’ chair can be attributed to Morris’s biographer J.W. Mackail who commented that the chair was adapted from a country chair found in Sussex. Black or red Sussex chairs were used in Morris’s first family home Red House.

Provenance: Richard & Hilary Myers collection.

Literature:

Linda Parry (edited), William Morris 1834-1896, Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition catalogue, page 160 figure 74 for the range illustrated from Morris & Co's catalogue.

Anna Mason (edited), William Morris, Thames & Hudson, page 199 figure IX.12 for a comparable example illustrated.