
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 25, 1995                   TAG: 9506270008
SECTION: HOMES                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KATHY SUE GRIGG
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WEALTHY POET CAME UP WITH THE MORRIS CHAIR DESIGN

English poet William Morris (1834-1896) was born into a wealthy family. By the age of 13, he had lost his father. William never had financial worries; therefore, he was able to study art and architecture at one of the finer schools.

He was in his 20s when he built his home. Since he couldn't find any suitable style of furniture, he started his own company in 1861. It was first known as Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. In 1875, Morris bought out his partners and called the company Morris & Co.

After this change, the Morris chair was introduced and became extremely popular. Its most outstanding characteristic, for that time, was its adjustable back.

It has four or five notches in which brass or iron rods can be placed to control the angle of the back. The legs usually have rollers for easy moving. There are spindles on the sides with flat arms on top. Normally, the arms had no upholstery, but the back and seat of the chair was upholstered and sometimes stuffed with horsehair.

A true prize is a chair with the markings "Morris & Co." Many companies, however, copied the chair's style. Victorian home reform included the Morris chair in a big way. Even Irving Berlin wrote in "All By Myself" that he sat "alone in a cozy Morris chair."

The resale value of Morris chairs is good, but if you have one you'll more than likely put it in your study or family room, and there it will stay.

You can still find a Morris chair fairly inexpensively. Unfortunately, don't expect the bargain offered in the 1908 Sears Roebuck catalog: $5.65.

by CNB