COLONIAL PERIOD: Governor Macquarie’s Gothic Revival Chair

Colonial-MacquarieGothicChair

History

Two such chairs were created in 1821-22 for Governor of NSW Lachlan Macquarie. They were commissioned for the formal representative functions of the government. They represent the Colonial Gothic style. One of these chairs is now owned by Macquarie University, the other belongs to the Powerhouse Museum. In 1821 both convicts were pardoned of their convictions.

Designed by

The chairs were designed and hand crafted by convict artisans, William Temple and John Webster.

William Temple was originally from Boston, Lincolnshire, England. He was convicted for larceny and sent to Australia. He arrived in NSW in 1814. He was a prisoner, but a cabinetmaker by trade. In 1821 Temple applied for and was given conditional pardon by Governor Macquarie.

John Nehemiah Webster(1798-1842) was born in London. In 1814 he was sent to Australia for a period of 14 years as as a prisoner convict for forgery. His skills were quickly appreciated and in 1821 he was granted conditional pardon.

Dimensions

HEIGHT 1310 MM, WIDTH 725 MM, DEPTH 584 MM

Materials

Rose mahogany, casuarina and Australian red cedar, upholstered in wallaby fur.

Elements and Principles

Texture is the Element and Contrast is the Principle of the design of this chair. The two contrasting textures are hard and shiny wood and soft wallaby fur – together they give the chair the feeling of power and, at the same time homely softness.

Manufactured by

William Temple, the cabinet maker and John Webster the carver.

Replicas

Temple and Webster were later commissioned by Thomas Hobbes Scott to create a similar chair, only slightly bigger. The chair can now be found in St. James Church, Sydney.