Willow Chair by Charles Rennie Mackintosh Production Cassina Authenticated

A throne-like armchair designed by acclaimed architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1904, for the “Willow Tea Rooms” in Glasgow. The tall semi-circular back served to separate the entrance area from the tea-room behind it. The back encompasses the seat, illustrating to perfection Mackintosh’s geometric and Art Nouveau style. Asian Style and emerging modernist ideas also influenced Mackintosh’s designs. When the Japanese isolationist regime softened, they opened themselves to globalisation resulting in notable Japanese influence around the world. Glasgow’s link with the eastern country became particularly close with shipyards at the River Clyde being exposed to Japanese navy and training engineers. Japanese design became more accessible and gained great popularity.     Provenance – MJ Long, OBE (Principal architect partner on the British Library).