Edwin Lutyens

Christie's London, 19th July 1989, lot 142.

It is known that the Napoleon chair was Lutyens favourite design for an armchair. A person can sit with one leg thrown across the end and a photograph of Lutyens himself in this pose is recorded (see: Lutyens, Hayward Gallery, London, exhibition catalogue, November 1981 - Januray 1982, p.10). 

A pair of 'Napoleon' chairs, woven in black horsehair, stood either side of the firepace at Lutyens home at 13 Mansfield Street, London. After his death, one passed to his daughter Elisabeth and remains with her descendants. The second passed to Mary Lutyens and is now in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Mary Lutyens believed the present chair was a third example which belonged to her brother, Robert. A photograph is available upon request that shows this chair was originally covered with black horsehair which matches the coverings of the examples from Mansfield Street. A further photograph shows Robert's daughter Candia in a chair in the same fabric, believed to be the current lot, before it was re-upholstered with plain fabric. 

The vendor had the chair restored and recovered by Lutyens Design Associates Ltd. with the correct horsehair fabric.