Armchair c. 1912 - 1913

This armchair was made by William Gray Purcell, although we don't know exactly when, as part of the Arts and Crafts movement. Think of the process of building this object: the careful selection of wood, the precision cuts, the rhythmic arrangement of the slats. I imagine Purcell was thinking about nature and craft, simplicity and functionality, and that he wanted to create something beautiful, useful, and honest. The wood has a warm, honeyed tone, punctuated by the green leather. The wood’s surface looks smooth and tactile, inviting touch, while the leather looks soft and supple. I see echoes of Frank Lloyd Wright in the geometric forms and emphasis on horizontal lines, and Gustav Stickley in the sturdy construction and honest materials. It’s like they were all in conversation, riffing off each other's ideas, each adding their own twist. I feel a sense of calm and order, but also a subtle tension between the straight lines and the organic grain of the wood. It’s a chair, yes, but it’s also a sculpture, a statement, a piece of history.