Gimpa's Morris Chair in Postcards 4
- April 1, 2022, 7:48 p.m.
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- Public
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We have two Morris Chairs. Actually. Since we have so much furniture and so little room, we lent the Morris rocker to Margot. That leaves us with Gimpa’s chair. When I was growing up, it lived in a corner of Gimpa’s bedroom. When mother moved out of number 20, I inherited the chair. It’s two, tired blue velvet cushions cradled me through many college years as they did my grandfather.
Yesterday in my continual mindless state, I wandered into an essay on William Morris https://cheznamastenancy.blogspot.com/2022/03/william-morris-arts-crafts.html on Chez Namaste Nancy’s blog. First I read her page then wandered to a link that caught my eye. This probably happens to you too, The Red House !
[https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/red-house])
Only after an afternoon of puttering through the William Morris sites did I become aware that Gimpa’s chair wasn’t a true representative of the “Arts and Crafts” Movement that Morris began. A true chair of this period would have solid slats to hold up the arms. A simple construction. The legs would have been straight, and the cushions leather. In America, the Stickley family made the best examples of the Arts and Crafts chair.
Family stories say that this chair was bought to go to college with Gimpa. It comes apart into a flat package suitable for shipping. Gimpa’s chair has turned supports for the arms. The legs have an almost Queen Anne curve with small feet at the floor. The straight arms have been replaced by wood that’s been carved to a comfortable place to rest your arm. The only part that’s left to say was William Morris influenced was the adjustable back. Curved slots have been cut in the back of the arms, and a brass rod stops the back from moving.
I like the Arts and Crafts Movement. I liked it even more when I inherited a large box of William Morris fabrics. Someone bought yards of these delightful prints and didn’t use them. I did. I must admit that it took me two years to cut and sew all the blocks, but eventually I got it done. Perhaps yellow wasn’t the best of accent colors, but it’s a warm quilt.
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Last updated April 03, 2022
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