Papier-mâché side chair
Unknown Artist
ca. 1830–60
Medium
Wood, papier-mâché, black lacquer, painted and gilded, mother-of-pearl, caned seat.
Dimensions
H. 79.5 cm, W. 42 cm, D. 38.4 cm
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
British (?)
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2069
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant papier-mâché side chair dating to around 1830–60, exemplifies the inventive furniture-making techniques of early Victorian Britain. Crafted from a wood core layered with papier-mâché lightweight, moldable material popularized in Birmingham workshops—the chair features a glossy black lacquer finish adorned with painted and gilded floral motifs, intricate mother-of-pearl inlays, and a woven caned seat. At just 79.5 cm high, its compact form (42 cm wide, 38.4 cm deep) made it ideal for intimate drawing rooms or side tables in fashionable homes. Papier-mâché revolutionized furniture ...