Dining room chair from the Speaker’s House, Palace of Westminster 1859

This dining room chair was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin for the Speaker’s House in the Palace of Westminster. It's made primarily of carved oak and tooled leather. The chair's solid oak frame shows skilled carving, a labor-intensive process achieved through specialized tools and expert handiwork. The attention to detail elevates the chair beyond mere functionality. The tooled leather of the seat and backrest, decorated with gilded rosettes, adds a layer of luxury, requiring careful handling and precise execution. The brass studs fixed into the leather further accentuate the chair's opulence. Pugin’s chair reflects a conscious choice of materials, making processes, and historical styles. Through the chair, Pugin evokes a sense of authority tied to history and craftsmanship, reminding us that even functional objects can embody deeper cultural and social values.