How do I care for a rush seat?

Keep the woven material away from excessive moisture and direct heat sources to prevent the natural fibres from becoming brittle. Occasional gentle dusting with a soft brush helps maintain the texture of the plaiting without damaging the organic strands.

Are these armchairs suitable for daily sitting?

Most surviving examples were built for robust domestic use, making them well-suited for everyday seating in living spaces or studies. Evaluating the tension of the woven seat and the stability of the timber joints ensures the chair can safely support regular weight.

How do I identify an Arts and Crafts chair?

Arts and Crafts pieces typically display visible construction methods, honest material use, and simplified structural lines influenced by workshop traditions. Designers associated with this movement favoured straightforward ladderback forms and unadorned native timbers over heavy Victorian ornamentation.

What is an Orkney chair?

An Orkney chair is a distinct regional seating form featuring a high woven straw back supported by a wooden frame. This traditional design protected sitters from draughts in coastal cottages using locally gathered oat straw and rush.