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

This carved oak chair was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in 1859 for the Speaker's House in the Palace of Westminster. It features a richly ornamented frame and a red leather seat with gold-leaf detailing. Pugin was a prominent figure in the Gothic Revival movement, and his designs for the Palace of Westminster showcased his fascination with medieval aesthetics. The chair's intricate details and robust construction reflect the movement's emphasis on craftsmanship and historical references. It is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.