Designs for Two Chairs 1841 - 1884

This watercolor on paper, "Designs for Two Chairs," was created by Charles Hindley and Sons, a London-based decorating firm. It shows a pair of upholstered armchairs. While this work is on paper, it is important to consider the materials involved in bringing such objects to life. Consider the complex labor involved in producing such furniture. The chair frames would likely be made of hardwoods. These would be joined using carpentry skills, and the upholstery involved careful cutting and sewing of textiles, the stretching of fabric, and the stuffing with horsehair or other materials. The deep buttoning seen here was extremely popular in Victorian England. While the design might seem straightforward, the making was not. This artwork serves as a reminder that even seemingly simple objects can be deeply embedded in material processes, social relations, and labor practices.