Barrel-back chairs - Fauteuil - Wood, Textile - Captain's chairs

Pair of captain's chairs / barrel-back in walnut — Arts & Crafts, United Kingdom, c. 1900–1910.

Object: pair of armchairs / captain's chairs
International designation: Pair of Arts & Crafts barrel-back / tub armchairs
Origin: England, United Kingdom
Era: early 20th century
Dating: c. 1900–1910
Style: Arts & Crafts / Edwardian, with some aesthetic similarity to late Aesthetic Movement
Wood: walnut
Seat: upholstered, fabric/silk-like material in green and gold tones
Dimensions: 77 × 54 × 49 cm each

Pair of English barrel-back or tub chairs, crafted in darkened walnut, featuring upholstered seats covered in a velvety-looking fabric in olive green and gold tones.

Each chair presents a wraparound structural feature, with a wide curved horseshoe-shaped upper arch describing nearly a semicircle from the front uprights to the back of the backrest, functioning simultaneously as backrest and arm support.

The space between the upper arch and the seat waist is filled by a regular succession of narrow vertical slats, creating an open, rhythmic backrest. This design gives the chairs an appearance that is simultaneously architectural and light, very representative of the Arts & Crafts movement’s pursuit of constructive simplicity.

The upper arch has a slightly curved profile, rising at the rear and descending progressively toward the arm supports.

The seats, of roughly semicircular/trapezoidal shape following the curvature of the frame, feature convex padding and are upholstered in green fabric with gold geometric decoration, affixed to the arch by a sequence of small decorative metal studs.

The waist is simple and slightly curved at the front, following the seat profile.

The four legs are tall, straight, and square in cross-section, with virtually no ornamentation, reinforcing the geometric simplicity of the design. They are joined by lower crossbars forming an X-shaped structural feature, a solution both functional and decorative.

It is precisely this combination of: semicircular backrest + vertical slats + straight lines + absence of historicist carving + geometric structure, that leads to classifying them within the British Arts & Crafts universe of around 1900.

Condition: The state is compatible with approximately 120 years of use. General wear to the finish is visible, including scratches, small abrasions, surface losses and uneven color, mainly on the upper arch, uprights, legs, and crossbars. The seat fabric shows wear and some loss of vitality, although remains visually interesting. The upholstery is present and contributes to the period character. One chair has been restored with an old, structurally correct intervention. There are also traces of wood-boring insect activity.