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Lot Essay
George Edmund Street was one of the most eminent architects of his day and one of the greatest exponents of the Gothic Revival. He was an assistant in the office of Sir George Gilbert Scott 1844-9, before setting up an independent practice, and in turn was the master of Norman Shaw, William Morris and Philip Webb.
This set of chairs was designed for his own use and remained within the family until recently. As his son A. E. Street emphasised in his memoir of his father (1888), '...Street believed passionately that an architect should not restrict his activity to the shell of a building, but on the contrary should design every fitting or piece of furniture in it...'. It is surprising that so little of his furniture seems to have survived. These chairs are characteristic of the few pieces that are known in their simplicity of design and understated decoration.
This set of chairs was designed for his own use and remained within the family until recently. As his son A. E. Street emphasised in his memoir of his father (1888), '...Street believed passionately that an architect should not restrict his activity to the shell of a building, but on the contrary should design every fitting or piece of furniture in it...'. It is surprising that so little of his furniture seems to have survived. These chairs are characteristic of the few pieces that are known in their simplicity of design and understated decoration.