Monday, September 12, 2011

Mastery of Design: The Lucknow Throne, 1820

Lucknow Throne
1820
Robert Home
The Victoria & Albert Museum
Since we looked at St. Edward’s chair earlier this morning, I thought we should examine a throne from another culture. Here, we see an Indian throne chair of wood, gilt brass and gilt gesso mounts, painted decoration and blue velvet upholstery. The chair dates to about 1820.

Known as the “Lucknow Throne Chair,” this chair is a rare surviving example of palace furniture from Lucknow in northern India. This opulent piece of furniture was a gift from Ghazi-ud-din Haidar, Nawab and King of Oudh (ruled 1814 to 1827), to Lord Amherst, the Governor-General of India which was given during Amherst's visit to Lucknow in 1827.

Though it was built to be used by an Indian ruler, the chair was actually designed by the celebrated Scottish artist Robert Home who was court painter at Lucknow. There, Home designed regalia, royal carriages, howdahs, barges and palace furnishings in the popular European fashions of the day. The typical British design of this piece is further adorned with the twin-fish badge of the rulers of Lucknow.

4 comments:

Shawn said...

I've added this to my list of "wants" should the V&A ever have a yard sale! :)

Joseph Crisalli said...

That list keeps getting longer.

Doni said...

It's ironic they say an artist is most challenged by rendering hands and feet, and yet one of the marks of *fine* furniture is often 'claw' feet...

I also wonder why it's creepy to think of 'hands' for arm chairs like claw feet, but would it be creepy to me if furniture makers had always made arms with 'hands'? Just things that make me go "hmmm". lol

Joseph Crisalli said...

Hmmm, indeed, Doni. Hmmm, indeed. I can honestly say I never gave that any thought. : )