This item is an example of domestic furniture created to reflect an Australiana type design with Australian motifs.Australiana lyre bird wood dining chair. Lyre bird carving on head rest. Wood turned structuressRID 254chair dining-chair furniture-domestic

This item is an example of domestic furniture created to reflect an Australiana type design with Australian motifs.Wooden, Australiana dining chair. Emus + bush scene carved into back with wood turned legs and supports.Front top - Rd 253chair dining-chair wooden-chair furniture-domestic

The Bentwood chair has been called ‘the world’s most popular chair’. The original Bentwood chair, was designed by German-Austrian cabinet maker and Master Joiner, Michael Thonet (b.1796 - d.1871) and introduced to the market in 1859. Thonet started his business in his home town of Boppard as an independent cabinet maker in 1819. In the 1830’s he began trying to make furniture from glued (laminated) and bent wooden slats. Over the next few years his attempts to patent this process failed in Germany, Great Britain, France, and Russia. He then began using lightweight, strong wood and bending it into elegant, comfortable furniture. The Bentwood technology took Thonet years to perfect. In simple terms, the wooden rods or lengths were wet by soaking or steaming, bent into shape and then held in place until they hardened into the moulded curved shape or pattern. The wood usually chosen for the bentwood chairs was maple or beech. Thonet had revolutionised an older process by industrialising the process. The dowels of wood were cut and prepared as components of furniture, treated by the ‘bentwood’ process, then ready immediately for assembling with very little extra workmanship needed. Thonet held 2 patents for this process, the second one ended on 10th July 1869 and was non-renewable. At the Trade Fair at Koblenz of 1841 Prince Klemens Wenzel von Mettemich was very impressed with Thonet’s furniture, especially the chairs. In 1842 Thonet sold his Boppard business and emigrated to Vienna, and began working, along with his sons, on the interior decoration of the Palais Leichtenstein, for the Carl Leistler establishment. In 1849 he began his own business again, the Gebruder Thonet to include his sons (translated “Brothers Thonet”). He produced the “No. 1” Bentwood chair. He received a bronze medal for his Vienna bentwood chairs at the World Fair in London in 1851, and a silver medal in Paris in 1855. In 1856 he opened a new factory in Koritchan (Moravia), where there were extensive woods of beech trees available for his enterprise. In the next years, five more Eastern European production sites were established in Bystritz (1862), Nagy-Ugrócz (1866), Wsetin (1867), Hallenkau(1867) and Nowo-Radomsk(1880). Thonet’s 1859 No. 14 “chair of chairs” (or “Konsumstuhl Nr. 14” – coffee shop chair no. 14) was the most famous of all of Thonet’s Bentwood chairs. In 1867 he received a gold medal at the Paris World Fair. This new style of furniture making became very popular. Up until 1830 50 million of these chairs had been produced. By the 1870’s Thonet owned offices in almost 20 countries, with sales locations across Europe, in Chicago and New York. In 1889 he set Thonet set up a head office in Frankenberg, Hesse. Bentwood models designed in the mid to late 19th century featured hand-caned or laminated wood seats and were usually stamped with the country of origin. The Bentwood elements were the backrest, seat rim and legs. Typically the seat was covered with ‘bucket’ leather. After the Patent ran out in 1869, companies such as Jacob & Josef Kohn began the production of bentwood furniture.The popularity of the Bentwood chair that was introduced by Michael Thonet in the 1850s is due to its versatility and timeless quality. Its style, whether varnished or painted, suits any room in the house. The lightweight chairs are also popular for café and restaurant seating, as well as for public gatherings. They can be easily moved around and grouped in a variety of ways to suit any occasion.Chair, bentwood, pair of two. Backrest has full length inverted U inside frame. Support rail and wire reinforcing between legs. 3692.01 seat has floral pattern pressed into wood 3692.02 seat is plain (replacement seat). Made by Harnison & Co.3692.01 chair's marks; Label ""HARNISON & CO./ NEUSOL / BUDAPEST" and "WIENER NOBEL" and "(symbol) N inside circle, under Crown" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, domestic furniture, dining furniture, bentwood chair, harnison & co., neusol, budapest, wiener nobel

This set of four dining chairs was part of the original furnishings of the St Nicholas' Mission to Seamen's Church at 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria. The Australian colonial wooden chairs date to the late 1880s and are most like to have been purchased for use in the Sailors’ Rest when it moved into Ann Street, Williamstown, around the 1880s. THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History: for more, see our Reg. No. 611, Set of Pews) The Missions to Seamen, an Anglican charity, has served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. It symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today there are centr4es in over 200 ports world-wide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities. In Victoria the orgainsation began in Williamstown in 1857. It was as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’. Its location was an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000 the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s. In 1943 a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966. A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981 and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel. This set of chairs is significant historically for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The set of chairs is historically significant for its connection to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, an organisation of women, formed to support seafarers. The connection of this set of chairs to the Mission to Seamen and to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary highlights the strong community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. Chairs: set of four (4) cedar wood dining chairs. Each chair has a rounded rail back, flat cross rail, flat wooden seat, curved back legs and colonial turned front legs. Mid-brown colour, veneered finish. The set of chairs is part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown Collection. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, religious service, sailors rest, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies harbour light guild, lightkeepers’ auxiliary, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, flying angel’s club, st nicholas mission to seamen church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, church furniture, religious furniture, religious worship, anglican church, chair, dining chair, kitchen chair, domestic furniture, colonial chair, australian colonial period, set of chairs, squab chairs, sailors' church, ann street williamstown

This chair is one of a set of four chairs from the St. Nicholas Seamen’s Church, 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria, during religious services there. The Church was operated by the Mission to Seamen organisation. * for more detailed history please see our Registration Number 658, Set of chairs This set of chairs is significant historically for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The set of chairs is historically significant for its connection to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, an organisation of women, formed to support seafarers. The connection of this set of chairs to the Mission to Seamen and to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary highlights the strong community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. Chair: Australian Colonial rail back dining chair. Chair is one of a set of four (4) cedar wood chairs. Each chair has a rounded rail back, flat cross rail, flat solid wood seat, curved back legs and colonial turned front legs. Mid-brown colour, veneer finish. The set of chairs is part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown Collection. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, religious service, sailors rest, sailors’ church, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies harbour light guild, lightkeepers’ auxiliary, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, flying angel’s club, ann street williamstown, st nicholas seaman’s church williamstown, st nicholas mission to seamen church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, church furniture, religious furniture, religious worship, anglican church, chair, dining chair, kitchen chair, domestic furniture, colonial chair, australian colonial period, cedar chair

This chair is one of a set of four chairs from the St. Nicholas Seamen’s Church, 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria, during religious services there. The Church was operated by the Mission to Seamen organisation. * for more detailed history please see our Registration Number 658, Set of chairs This set of chairs is significant historically for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The set of chairs is historically significant for its connection to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, an organisation of women, formed to support seafarers. The connection of this set of chairs to the Mission to Seamen and to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary highlights the strong community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. Chair: Australian Colonial rail back dining chair. Chair is one of a set of four (4) cedar wood chairs. Each chair has a rounded rail back, flat cross rail, flat solid wood seat, curved back legs and colonial turned front legs. Mid-brown colour, veneer finish. The set of chairs is part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown Collection. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, religious service, sailors rest, sailors’ church, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies harbour light guild, lightkeepers’ auxiliary, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, flying angel’s club, ann street williamstown, st nicholas seaman’s church williamstown, st nicholas mission to seamen church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, church furniture, religious furniture, religious worship, anglican church, chair, dining chair, kitchen chair, domestic furniture, colonial chair, australian colonial period, cedar chair

This chair is one of a set of four chairs from the St. Nicholas Seamen’s Church, 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria, during religious services there. The Church was operated by the Mission to Seamen organisation. * for more detailed history please see our Registration Number 658, Set of chairs This set of chairs is significant historically for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The set of chairs is historically significant for its connection to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, an organisation of women, formed to support seafarers. The connection of this set of chairs to the Mission to Seamen and to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary highlights the strong community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. Chair: Australian Colonial rail back dining chair. Chair is one of a set of four (4) cedar wood chairs. Each chair has a rounded rail back, flat cross rail, flat solid wood seat, curved back legs and colonial turned front legs. Mid-brown colour, veneer finish. The set of chairs is part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown Collection. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, religious service, sailors rest, sailors’ church, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies harbour light guild, lightkeepers’ auxiliary, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, flying angel’s club, ann street williamstown, st nicholas seaman’s church williamstown, st nicholas mission to seamen church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, church furniture, religious furniture, religious worship, anglican church, chair, dining chair, kitchen chair, domestic furniture, colonial chair, australian colonial period, cedar chair

This chair is one of a set of four chairs from the St. Nicholas Seamen’s Church, 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria, during religious services there. The Church was operated by the Mission to Seamen organisation. * for more detailed history please see our Registration Number 658, Set of chairs This set of chairs is significant historically for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The set of chairs is historically significant for its connection to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, an organisation of women, formed to support seafarers. The connection of this set of chairs to the Mission to Seamen and to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary highlights the strong community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. Chair: Australian Colonial rail back dining chair. Chair is one of a set of four (4) cedar wood chairs. Each chair has a rounded rail back, flat cross rail, flat solid wood seat, curved back legs and colonial turned front legs. Mid-brown colour, veneer finish. The set of chairs is part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown Collection. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, religion, religious service, sailors rest, sailors’ church, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies harbour light guild, lightkeepers’ auxiliary, missions to seamen victoria, mission to seafarers, flying angel’s club, ann street williamstown, st nicholas seaman’s church williamstown, st nicholas mission to seamen church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, 139 nelson place williamstown, church furniture, religious furniture, religious worship, anglican church, chair, dining chair, kitchen chair, domestic furniture, colonial chair, australian colonial period, cedar chair