Ernest William Gimson (1864-1919) for the Lea Cottage
wardrobe
Ulverscroft, England, circa 1898
oak, iron
46 1/2"w x 23"d x 77"h

Provenance:
Christie's, New York, New York, Important 20th Century Decorative Arts Including Wiener, 09 December 2003, Sale 1311, Lot 61

Catalog Note:
Ernest William Gimson is known as one of the most important figures of English Arts & Crafts Movement of the 20th century. Born to an engineer and iron founder Josiah Gimson of Gimson & Company that manufactured steam engines and various machineries, Gimson gained his working knowledge in engineering and design at an early age. At 15, he began working as an apprentice at a renowned architectural firm in his hometown of Leicester. At 19, after attending a lecture entitled “Art and Socialism” by William Morris, he was completely drawn by Morris’ philosophy and the Arts & Crafts Movement as a whole. This encounter had such a significant impact on Gimson who maintained close ties with Morris thereafter. In 1887, upon completing his apprenticeship and education at Leicester School of Art, he began his professional career as a designer and architect in London with John Dando Seddin's firm. During his two-year tenure with the company, Gimson trained himself by creating intricate, natural design elements and embodying the philosophy of the Arts & Crafts Movement. In 1889, Gimson joined Morris' Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and continued his effort in preserving not only historic architecture, but also the traditional methods of crafts — an essential part of Arts & Crafts Movement. By 1893, Gimson had uprooted his life in London and moved with brothers Ernest and Sidney Barnsley to a rural region of Gloucestershire in the Cotswolds, where they practiced furniture making for a small group of clients and planned to establish a "Utopian craft village" characterized by simplicity and pleasurable labor. This wardrobe was custom made for the Lea Cottage, designed by Gimson and executed by Detmar Blow between 1898 and 1899, for his siblings as their summer retreat.

Cleaned original finish. Structurally sound.