An admission: I have a fetish for chairs.
As a designer, chairs offer the best opportunity to design from a sculptural aspect. Coupled with my historical jones, it should not be surprising that the one chair design that stands out is klismos. Given the timeless nature of this chair, it is no wonder other furniture designers have gravitated to this form as well. But what I find as interesting as the chair itself is the diverse personalities involved with bringing this form, along with ancient Greek ideals, back to life.
The extravagant Thomas Hope (1770-1831), son of one of the wealthiest banking families of Europe, was a collector, author, patron and furniture designer whose designs were inspired by Greek, Roman and Egyptian styles from his 10-year Grand Tour of the Ottoman Empire. He made klismos a commonplace word among a new generation of designers and architects.
Hope is now best known for his book, “Household Furniture and Interior Decoration” published in 1807, which is believed to be the first English use of the phrase “interior decoration.” The book contained drawings of the interiors and furnishings of his London town home, which he opened to the public in hope of transforming modern British taste. This classically inspired pattern book of the English Regency became “the source” for generations of designers and architects drawn to the ideals of ancient Greece. He urges the young artist:
“to take a higher flight, he (the artist) should not stop his progress at the study of my humble publication;
he should ascend to those higher, those more copious sources of elegance, whence I myself have drawn all my ideas,
and which alone can offer an inexhaustible store of ever varied and ever novel beauties.”
Damn.
“…my hope that the days of Greece may be revived in the woods of America,
and Philadelphia become the Athens of the Western world”
On this side of the pond, one such person to reference Hope’s book was British born, Philadelphia architect and designer, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, also enthralled with Ancient Greece. Two separate commissions demonstrate his admiration for klismos.
His second commission was for Dolley Madison. It was she who wanted to open the “people’s house” to more informal gatherings of men and women, in the tradition of the French salon. Where the modern classical taste embraced the klismos form as a symbol of grace and beauty, the engineering behind the ancient design had been lost.
This design shows a purer historical reference, with dramatic sweeping saber legs. But given the structural stress with legs of this exaggerated curve, Latrobe added “X” stretchers, thus they do not have the grace of his earlier chair. As a side note regarding construction, Latrobe wrestled with finding competent makers to execute his designs, as did Thomas Hope, evident in his writings. Upon viewing the first sample, Latrobe wrote his client, saying:
“To make a chair requires as much taste to design one.”
To be fair, his insistence on exactly following his designs raised issues of structural integrity, as several broke when sat upon. Some things never change.
Although he was quite aware of Greek Revival renditions, Gibby, as he was called, believed no 18th or 19th century furniture designer captured the grace and proportion of Greek furniture that belonged to it and to it alone. In the 20th century he discovers for himself the purity and flawlessness of the original Greek forms.
It’s apparent we’re drawn to the klismos form. I know I have used iterations, as have others in this century. What will the next generations of designers bring to this form? Will we find the klismos forms created in the future as inspiring as the Hope, Latrobe and Robsjohn-Gibbings’ interpretations of centuries past?
For a more thorough and fascinating read on Thomas Hope and his life and time, I highly recommend, “Thomas Hope, Regency Designer,” edited by David Watkin and Philip Hewat-Jaboor.
“Household Furniture and Interior Decoration” by Thomas Hope.
Maryland Historical Society – Latrobe drawings
Museum of Fine Art Houston – Latrobe Waln chairs
T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings and C. W. Pullin, “Furniture of Classical Greece.”
Hi John,
Loving the blog – you should write a book..!
All the best – Anthony
Anthony
Thanks for the kind words. As for the book….would love to have the time. Perhaps a sabbatical is just the thing.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Best
john
Love this John, I love your perspective and your voice shines through.
I have so much to learn through your blog!
Miss Lisa
So glad you enjoyed this….and pleased my point of view is coming through.
I do appreciate your encouragement and the advice from you, Steph and Kathryn. More than you know.
Best to all
john
Professor Black,
Very cool history lesson, i bet you could go crazy in the ero art deco era. Lets talk over some cocktails .
Cheers,
Tim
Tim
Thanks much. As you know, a little history goes a long way.
And yes, like most periods, the Art Deco era has so many great stories….it’s on my list!
And always ready and willing for cocktails.
Take care and hope to run into you soon.
john
John,
I’ve taken my time visiting this blog–but I’ll be back. (I think I agree with Mr. Cox.)
I look forward to seeing you in October.
Best,
Ann
Ann
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. You know it means a great deal to me.
And I too look forward to seeing you and the rest of the crew this October.
Until then, best to everyone.
john
Mon ami John,
Il longtemps que je t’écoute, et j’ai appris bien des choses et bien des choses tu dois m’apprendre encore.
L’amour pour les chaises est un virus que j’ai tout comme toi attrapé.
Merci pour cette belle histoire d’assise.
Il est certain que aussi longtemps que les hommes et les femmes auront une paire de fesses pour s’assoir, il faudra des designers comme toi mon ami pour dessiner les plus belles formes afin de marier confort et élégance.
Toute mon amitié à tous les deux.
Patrick from Paris..
Merci, Patrick.
Votre sous-chef du Design.
Hey John
I love your blog!! Great perspective and history of design . You need your own show on Natgeo and a book on the history of design is a great idea. Please keep the blog going. Thanks
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John,
I love the history lesson and can’t wait for yet another interpretation of this wonderful form. Some things just get better with age and this form is one. Wine of course is a close second.
John,
You know, if you laid the klismos chair on it’s back the front legs almost exactly reflect the long-term stock market performance! Of course (unfortunately), the back legs would also reflect some short-term market performance as well. I really enjoyed your perspective on the history of your profession, thanks.
Indeed I am drawn to the klismos form. Next time I’m in the British Museum I’ll be checking out the pots for chair forms. Thanks for the info. I never knew the word “klismos” before.