Late 19th Century Quarter Sawn Oak Hall Settle by George Henry Walton (Attributed)

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Description

Hall settle from the Arts & Crafts period attributed to George Henry Walton (Scottish, 1867–1933). Quarter sawn oak. Original finish.

… Read more Hall settle from the Arts & Crafts period attributed to George Henry Walton (Scottish, 1867–1933). Quarter sawn oak. Original finish.

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Walton was a noted Scottish architect and designer of remarkable diversity. His work ventured into almost every avenue of decorative art, helping to pioneer the distinctive Glasgow Style.

In London he met George Davison (English, 1854–1930) who was employed by Eastman Kodak. Through him Walton designed two rooms at the Eastman Exhibition which was critically acclaimed as ‘the biggest and best thing ever done’ in Britain by way of a photographic exhibition.

This led to a commission to design a new head office and showroom for Eastman’s European operations on Clerkenwell Road and later their new showroom at 171–3 Regent Street. Variants of this bench can be found in historical photographs of these rooms.

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Its genius is in the proportions: a dramatic 62-inch height and conservative 16.5-inch depth create maximum impact in any space without the usual intrusion associated with large furniture pieces.

Boasting a flat seat, the piece doubles as a low console table. Use antique books, pottery, and other objet d’art at one or both ends to create juxtaposition. All compositions are activated by a rich, warm oak backdrop with substantial reach.

The corbel-like top rail in Walton's design usually rear-projects in his known examples (see photo), welcoming perpendicular orientation in a room. Historical photographs often show this bench, or two, positioned in front of a fireplace for the requisite inglenook. This rare variant is front-facing, indicating the piece was intended to sit against a wall.

Asking price obtained from value codes published in Arts & Crafts: Living with the Arts & Crafts Style by Judith Miller (Hachette Book Group, 2014).

Included with purchase is a first-edition hardcover of George Walton, Designer and Architect by Karen Moon (White Cockade Publishing, 1994).

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“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

William Morris
(English, 1834–1896) See less