The term Morris Chair usually defines a deep, high armchair with an adjustable reclining back and cushions for the back and seat. It traditionally has spindle or slat sides and bow arms. It was first marketed around 1866. This chair was named for Arts and Crafts proponent William Morris, and the original chair was actually designed by his business partner Philip Webb based on folk chairs found in Sussex, England.
The Morris Chair was widely copied and adapted by other furniture-makers during the Arts and Crafts period including Gustav Stickley. This style is often considered to be the precursor of modern recliners and was clearly developed with comfort and relaxation in mind. Chairs have had a slow evolution, and the best chairs are important symbols as well as places to sit and relax.
In the early 1900's, Gustav Stickley began producing his versions of Morris chairs, and it evolved into something much more familiar. Stickley was an admirer of Morris, and the first issue of Stickley’s magazine The Craftsman was an homage to Morris. Gustav Stickley manufactured several variations, the best known being the bow arm, the flat arm and the bent arm. These designs were widely imitated in the day, with varying degrees of success.
Morris chairs feature a seat with a reclining back and moderately high armrests, which give the chair an old-style appearance. The characteristic feature of a Morris chair is a hinged back, set between two un-upholstered arms, with the reclining angle adjusted through a row of pegs, holes or notches in each arm. In other instances, the reclining of the back is controlled by a metal bar set in hooked back racks. The original Morris chair had dark stained woodwork, turned spindles and heavily decorated upholstery, in typical Victorian style.
The chair was widely copied after Morris' introduction, and is still manufactured. The appearance and style of upholstery is usually quite different from Morris's, but the overall layout is constant. There are two rather distinct types of these chairs. One type, called the "traditional" Morris chair evolved directly from the Morris original. It often features carving and serpentine shapes. These chairs were produced in the hundreds of thousands from about 1890 to 1930 in versions ranging from affordable to very high-end.
The other style of Morris chair is called the "Mission" or the "Craftsman" Morris chair. The best-known examples are those were first produced by Gustav Stickley in 1904 and then widely copied afterwards. The woodwork is lightly finished and largely un-decorated oak in rectangular sections. Upholstery comprises unframed cushions in brown leather, or green or brown fabric. The Craftsman or Mission style of Morris chair is often thought of as a Stickley design named in homage to Morris, rather than an original Morris piece. As with all Stickley, these chairs are keenly collected today, and originals fetch several thousands of dollars.
When you look at the other prevailing styles at the time, you can imagine why this style quickly became so popular. Can you imagine your lounge room without this style of chair today?
