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What is a Morris Chair?

Jessica Ellis
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 13,555
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A Morris chair is an early recliner named for the founder of the company that invented it, William Morris and Company. The chair was first popular during the Victorian era in England, but was later adapted into the popular Mission and Arts and Crafts design movements. Morris chairs remain popular in modern design for their easily convertible look and style.

In 1861, English poet, painter and social reformer William Morris formed a design corporation that would come to be commonly known as Morris and Company. The company emphasized home craftsmanship, rather than the factory produced work that had become prevalent during the British Industrial revolution. Their designs featured hand-dyed and woven fabrics and hand-carved woods.

The Morris chair was originally introduced in 1866, and photographs exist of a Morris chair in William Morris’ own home. It is believed to have been reproduced from a prototype version owned by Ephraim Colfax of Sussex, England. The signature feature of the chair is its reclining back, which was revolutionary at the time.

Unlike a lounge chair, which is relatively informal in style, a Morris chair features a high back and high armrests, and can be used like any armchair in its upright position. Early models of the Morris chair had upholstered cushions or fabric sewn onto the chair, but later models feature removable cushions. This added to the flexibility of the chair, as cushions could easily be changed to suit altered tastes or color schemes. The reclining back is considered the predecessor of all modern reclining chairs.

Although the original Morris Chairs were highly decorative and somewhat bulky, the chair became immensely popular as an icon of the Arts and Crafts movement. The simple lines and advanced craftsmanship necessary for a Morris chair was appealing to Arts and Crafts fans, who emphasized the importance of functional design and craft. Gustav Stickley, an American furniture designer, and British design company Liberty and Company made several adaptations to the Morris chair and had considerable success with it. In modern versions, the armrests are usually lower than is traditional and the reclining mechanisms are easier to operate.

Original 19th century Morris chairs, even those made by companies other than Morris and Company, are extremely rare. On antique auction sites, an early Gustav Stickley version can cost over $5000 US Dollars. Reproduction Morris chairs usually conform to the Mission or Arts and Crafts styles, and are available at wide variety of prices depending on the source, materials, and craftsmanship.

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Jessica Ellis
By Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica Ellis brings a unique perspective to her work as a writer for HomeQuestionsAnswered. While passionate about drama and film, Jessica enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics, creating content that is both informative and engaging for readers.
Discussion Comments
By Animalz — On Jul 03, 2011

@qwertyq – You have an antique Morris chair with a built-in footrest? I’ve never heard of that. I have a really comfortable antique one, but I have to use an ottoman with mine. Luckily the ottoman is also an antique with the same finish as my chair, so I don’t have to get either reupholstered.

By qwertyq — On Jul 02, 2011

Antique Morris chairs are beautiful, but I don’t think they’re very comfortable. I have one that has a push button on one of the arms for releasing the reclining back. It also has a sort of drawer that pulls out from beneath the seat and acts as a footrest. It was made in the 1900s, and still works really well.

I need new cushions for it, though. The ones that came with it aren’t soft enough.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica Ellis...
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