Christopher Clarke Antiques

Antique Rocking Chair Designed by RW Winfield

Robert Winfield was a known metallic campaign furniture maker and has an entry in the directory of makers in the Brawer book. The design for this chair, in tubular metal, was first shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and it is believed that he first started manufacturing it in strap steel in the early 1860's. Winfield is listed in the various directories between 1835 and 1890 with a factory in Birmingham and office in Fleet Street, London. It seems the core of his business was brass foundry, making all sorts of items from picture hooks to shop fronts. However, he also advertised himself as a maker of patent military and travelling furniture. Winfield is known to have made portable brass armchairs and claimed to be the proprietor of the original patent for metallic military bedsteads. Certainly, considering the very advanced design of this chair, Winfield had the ingenuity to have invented the metal portable bed. He won various prizes for his work and can be considered an innovator in his field. This chair is made of strap metal with brass bolts and unlike others of the same design, which either don't have bolts or they are fixed, was made to easily come apart for travel. Winfield’s design was so popular that it is probable that a number of makers produced the chair. Third Quarter 19th century.

Dimensions Assembled are given