The 1851 Great Exhibition
Carved
Bog Yew Armchair
by Arthur Jones of Dublin
"The first effort to introduce the art of wood sculpture into Ireland."
-John Lambert Jones
Arthur Jones (Dublin)
The
1851 Great Exhibition
Carved Bog Yew Armchair
Bog Yew Wood, Upholstery
H: 57 in / 145 cm
W: 30 in / 76 cm
D: 31.5 in / 80 cm
Carved entirely from Irish bog yew wood, a timber celebrated for its rarity and its ability to achieve a beautiful polish due to its close grain; the armchair designed and manufactured by Arthur Jones “to illustrate the history, antiquities, animal and vegetable productions, etc., of Ireland.” The carved back of the chair proudly displaying the ancient arms of Ireland in the form of a harp, surmounted by the rare crest and torse consisting of a tower with a deer leaping from the portal; flanked by carved oak leaves and two ancient Irish
warrior busts; the waisted outline of the back leading toward the elbows of the fauteuil formed by two carved wolf dogs; one recumbent with its collar inscribed “Gentle when stroked” in Gaelic, while its counterpart standing at attention, his collar reading “Fierce when provoked.” Supported on four lion-paw feet with hidden castors, carved with oak leaves and acorns, complementing the carved shamrock decorated apron. With later upholstery. The back signed by the maker “Jones / Maker. Dublin. / 1850.” Irish, dated 1850
Historical significance
First displayed alongside a larger suite of furniture celebrating Irish history, the armchair was finished by Arthur Jones in 1850, just in time for its unveiling at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851 (fig. 1) The suite also included a card table (fig. 2), now in the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, as well as a wine cooler part of the National Trust in Sydney Australia, and a pole screen in the Art Institute of Chicago (fig. 3).
The suite also found success when it was exhibited at the 1853 Dublin Great Industrial Exhibition (fig. 6). At this time, an elaborate description of the suite written by John Lambert Jones, dedicated to the duke of Leinster, declares the suite and its chair represented “the first effort to introduce the art of wood sculpture into Ireland.”
Figure 3. Arthur Jones, Pole-Screen, c. 1851, Art Institute of Chicago
Figure 2. Arthur Jones, Card Table, 1851, Victoria & Albert Museum
Figure 1. Arthur Jones, Bog Yew Wood Armchair, 1850, Butchoff Antiques
The Great Exhibition of 1851
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the “Great Exhibition” or the “Crystal Palace Exhibition” was the first, and perhaps the most successful, in a series of World’s Fairs which showcased culture, industry and design throughout the empire and the world. Organised by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, its goal was to promote Britain as the indisputable leader of industry throughout the world. The Exhibition was enormously influential on the development of many aspects of society including art and design education, international trade and relations, and even tourism.
Among the many achievements and inventions shown, including telescopes, machinery, steam engines, textiles, ceramics and the largest known diamond (the Koh-i-Noor), furniture & decorative arts were one of the central focal points of the fair (fig. 5). Deemed the pinnacle of Victorian modern design, many of the items displayed are represented in museum collections, including the Star of Brunswick Table by Henry Eyles and the Pugin Armoire both in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Housed in a specially-built glass and iron building in Hyde Park designed by Joseph Paxton (fig. 4), it is estimated
Figure 4. General View of the Interior (from Recollections of the Great Exhibition), by John Absolon, William Telbin, Day & Son, Ltd, Sir Joseph Paxton.
six million people – the equivalent of one-third of the British population –visited the exhibition, including Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, and Queen Victoria herself having visited 34 times.
The Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853
The Great Industrial Exhibition was held in Dublin in 1853 and was the largest international event ever held in Ireland at the time. A successor to the London Great Exhibition, its purpose was to promote Ireland as an industrial force to be reckoned with. Equally housed in a purpose-built exhibition space (fig. 6), its architect John Benson was awarded a knighthood for his work. Exhibits included ancient and modern Irish achievements, such as the 8th century Tara Brooch, local linen & lace, as well as the bog yew wood
furniture by Arthur Jones, which was later accompanied by its own publication.
Figure 6. View of the Great Industrial Exhibiton of 1853, held in Dublin.
Figure 5. Furniture Court at the Great Exhibition of 1851, held in London
