19th C. Orkney Chair
When I was little I used to bunch all the covers up in bed and make a little fortress around my head—this way I couldn’t see out, which was enough to make me feel like whatever big, scary thing was out there couldn’t see me, either.
This chair’s woven shield of a back reminds me of how I’d do this, and of how we grow up and the monsters have this way of getting less fantastical, but scarier, if we let them.
This chair was literally made to shield you. Orkney chairs were made low to keep their sitters close to the open peat fires traditionally lit in the local homes of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of Scotland. And their backs, woven from local straw (the Islands weren’t flush with timber), were made to keep the cold air out. And—though this is just a guess—the monsters, too.
19th C. Orkney Chair, pine and straw
39 H x 25 W, 20 D, SH 14.75
Minor losses to straw back on one side as shown, otherwise in great antique condition.
Local pickup in Hudson or get in touch for a shipping quote: freaksnewyork@gmail.com.
When I was little I used to bunch all the covers up in bed and make a little fortress around my head—this way I couldn’t see out, which was enough to make me feel like whatever big, scary thing was out there couldn’t see me, either.
This chair’s woven shield of a back reminds me of how I’d do this, and of how we grow up and the monsters have this way of getting less fantastical, but scarier, if we let them.
This chair was literally made to shield you. Orkney chairs were made low to keep their sitters close to the open peat fires traditionally lit in the local homes of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of Scotland. And their backs, woven from local straw (the Islands weren’t flush with timber), were made to keep the cold air out. And—though this is just a guess—the monsters, too.
19th C. Orkney Chair, pine and straw
39 H x 25 W, 20 D, SH 14.75
Minor losses to straw back on one side as shown, otherwise in great antique condition.
Local pickup in Hudson or get in touch for a shipping quote: freaksnewyork@gmail.com.
When I was little I used to bunch all the covers up in bed and make a little fortress around my head—this way I couldn’t see out, which was enough to make me feel like whatever big, scary thing was out there couldn’t see me, either.
This chair’s woven shield of a back reminds me of how I’d do this, and of how we grow up and the monsters have this way of getting less fantastical, but scarier, if we let them.
This chair was literally made to shield you. Orkney chairs were made low to keep their sitters close to the open peat fires traditionally lit in the local homes of the Orkney Islands, off the coast of Scotland. And their backs, woven from local straw (the Islands weren’t flush with timber), were made to keep the cold air out. And—though this is just a guess—the monsters, too.
19th C. Orkney Chair, pine and straw
39 H x 25 W, 20 D, SH 14.75
Minor losses to straw back on one side as shown, otherwise in great antique condition.
Local pickup in Hudson or get in touch for a shipping quote: freaksnewyork@gmail.com.