In March 1917 Wenman Bassett-Lowke, founder of a prospering model-making and miniature railway business, brought his bride to their new home at 78 Derngate, Northampton. A modest terraced house, it was dramatically transformed by the world-famous Glaswegian architect, artist and designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh; his only significant work outside Scotland. Amazingly, some of the original features remain for all to see!
As part of the unique scheme in the hall/lounge, Mackintosh designed these high-backed chairs. Their style and appearance echo the dark finish and angular forms seen in the rest of the interior. Featuring a lattice work back and stepped, oriental-inspired mouldings, the curved profile of the chairs serves to relieve the somewhat rigid geometry in the room. The design of these chairs, of which there were originally four, is related to that of the 78 Derngate settle and other furniture by Mackintosh produced around the same time.
It is believed that the chairs were manufactured by interned German craftsmen from Knockaloe Camp on the Isle of Man during the First World War.
Two of the four chairs entered The Victoria & Albert collection in 1970. These two usually reside in the study of the house, just round the corner at 78 Derngate.
Number 79 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects exhibition 2025.
Northampton
Contributed by Liz Jansson, House Manager 78 Derngate – The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House
This shoemaker's bench is evidence of the shoemaking trade before mechanisation aand factory manufacture when solitary shoemakers mostly worked in small workshops in their home.
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