Moorish Oak Chair by Liberty's

English, circa 1880

This armchair is part of a suite designed in the Moorish style. The frame is made of oak with lattice and bobbin turned panels. The type of woodwork found in this piece is common in Arabic countries and is known as ‘musharabiyeh’. Its place of manufacture is unknown but the lattice panels are possibly Egyptian or North African in origin. It might have been designed for Liberty’s by Leonard F. Wyburd (DATES) who designed for the company or, alternatively, it may have been made in Cairo or Baghdad, imported to England and then simply marked with the Liberty label.

These types of chairs were sometimes 'westernised' by the addition of a cushion to soften the otherwise severe woodwork.

Chairs