Built to Last

Substantial hand-adzed furniture featured in many of the homes designed by James Walter Chapman-Taylor. The multi-talented and spiritual architect built many of his highest profile commissions in Taranaki including Wilkinson’s Castle, Plas Mawr and Tūpare. Heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, Chapman-Taylor was disgusted by what he saw as the “degrading result of the sawmill” and instead favoured solid hand-made furniture which was built to last.

High backed Morris style chairs like this one, which was originally designed for Tūpare, were a particular favourite of his. Morris chairs were widely associated with Arts and Crafts after the original model was designed for the influential writer, designer and artist William Morris in 1865. This one stands 1.3 metres tall and, like the majority of Chapman-Taylor furniture, is thought to be crafted from jarrah.