1989.886

Ford Madox Brown (designer), Morris & Company (Retailer)

Armchair made from ash, stained black, rush seat. This design of chair is known as a Sussex chair, and the design is based on traditional country chairs. Warington Taylor, who became the manager of Morris & Co. in 1865, believed 'It is hellish wickedness to spend more than 15/- in a chair, when the poor are starving in the streets ... Your Liverpool merchant only loves mahogany because it is heavy like his money and his head'. The Sussex armchair was made by Morris & Co. over a long period. A catalogue of about 1912 shows that it then cost 9/9 (approximately 49p).

, London

1864 - 1865

Arts & Crafts

ash wood, rush