Armchair 1847 - 1850

This armchair, located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was created by John and Joseph W. Meeks in the mid-19th century. It serves as a window into the Victorian era's complex relationship with history, class, and identity. The chair's Gothic Revival style, with its pointed arches and decorative details, evokes a romanticized past, a common theme during a period of rapid industrialization and social change. Simultaneously, the chair’s mahogany frame and leather upholstery speaks to the opulence and material aspirations of the burgeoning middle class. The Meeks firm was known for catering to this desire for elaborate, historically-inspired furnishings. Consider, however, who this chair was intended for – a symbol of domestic comfort and authority for the head of the household, likely a man. The chair embodies the Victorian ideals of domesticity and gender roles, while also reminding us of the social hierarchies inherent in its design and use. This conflation asks us to reflect on the power dynamics embedded in something as seemingly benign as a chair.