{"product_id":"david-munro-kirkness-1855-1936-gentleman-s-orkney-chair-kirkwall-orkney-circa-1896-1902","title":"David Munro Kirkness (1855–1936) | Gentleman’s Orkney Chair. | Kirkwall, Orkney, Circa 1896–1902.","description":"\u003cp\u003e“Although Kirkness’ workshop produced thousands of chairs over many years, almost all the original pasted labels have become detached and lost. This chair retains its original label”. - \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/?srsltid=afmboopkq3hs9by3ntb3vpfi2tpj848kh0mtg1afkwntot4l82qwxszd\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"V\u0026amp;A London\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eV\u0026amp;A museum London.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Gentleman’s Orkney Chair was made by David Munro Kirkness at his workshop on Palace Street, Kirkwall, during the late nineteenth or very early twentieth century. Constructed in white deal (pine), it retains its original hand-woven oat-straw back, original solid wooden seat and, most importantly, its original printed David Munro Kirkness, Palace Street, Kirkwall trade label beneath the seat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResearch undertaken by 1923 Antiques has compared this chair with published institutional examples, including those held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collections.st-andrews.ac.uk\/item\/orkney-chair\/1005468\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"University of St Andrews\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eUniversity of St Andrews\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nms.ac.uk\/national-museum-of-scotland\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"National Museum Of Scotland\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eNational Museum of Scotland.\u003c\/a\u003e We have only found 3 in existence so far (ours being one of the three although we’re confident a few more will exist as David Kirknesd sold to royal families etc). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on currently published information, only a small number of original Kirkness Gentleman’s Chairs retaining their trade labels have been publicly documented. As museums continue to catalogue and study their collections, that picture may develop further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDavid Munro Kirkness (1855–1936) was born in Westray and served an apprenticeship with Kirkwall joiner John P. Peace.  He and his brother William set up as joiners and undertakers in 1880.  His first order for straw-backed chairs came from Miss Maud Balfour of Berstane House to be delivered to Lady Sinclair, Bara House, Caithness.  His order books are dominated by elite female customers and he regularly supplied his stock to the Scottish Home Industries Association for sale in Edinburgh and London and to Liberty \u0026amp; Co of Regent Street, London.  He exhibited at the Edinburgh International Exhibition of Science, Art and Industry in 1890 which generated orders that took years to fulfill.  The chairs found favour in Arts \u0026amp; Crafts circles.  Sir Robert Lorimer and his sister purchased two for the family home, Kellie Castle, Fife, in 1893. - National Museum Of Scotland.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are delighted to have acquired this piece and having worked in Scotland for many years as a photographer (\u0026amp; getting engaged on the Isle of Mull!) Scotland has always been very special to me and is something we’re going to enjoy at home for a long time - Ed, owner of 1923 Antiques.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePics of our Gentlemans Orkney chair by us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePics of a gentleman’s chair with paper label from the V\u0026amp;A London.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePics from “Scottish Vernacular Furniture” by Bernard D. Cotton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWorldwide shipping available, not included. Please enquire for a delivery quote before purchasing or arrange to collect from our London gallery.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you have an Orkney chair retaining its original paper label, we’d love to hear from you, please email us.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"1923 Antiques LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56794910425474,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1990\/8245\/files\/24FA8028-A0F4-4BA4-A57C-67157E705BC5.jpg?v=1785093877","url":"https:\/\/www.1923antiques.com\/products\/david-munro-kirkness-1855-1936-gentleman-s-orkney-chair-kirkwall-orkney-circa-1896-1902","provider":"1923 Antiques LTD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}