Accession Number

2020.002

Alternate Name

chair, child's

Description

Rattan child's rocking chair. The rattan body of the chair is woven into a diagonal dark brown chevron pattern on a tan background. This pattern forms a diamond on the curve of the arm rest. The back curves down to the sides with a loop separated from the main seat back. The body is finished with a rattan wall on either side of the back support pieces. A four piece cross bar ties the legs together above the wooden rockers.

Narrative

Mrs. Robert Dunsmuir, known to her friends and family as “Olive”, may have had small furniture in the Castle for her visiting grandchildren and great grandchildren. This example of rattan furniture is unusual due to its use of the alternating colours in the rattan to create designs. The double-walled rattan seat-back is rarely seen. This child’s rattan rocking chair with BC provenance aids in presenting the Dunsmuir story at Craigdarroch Castle.

History of Use

Purchased by the donor’s parents in used condition at Maynard’s Victoria auction house in 1949. The donor used it until about 1953 when it went into storage in Victoria, and later, on Hornby Island.

Date

1895 – 1909

Dimensions

73 x 44 x 74.5 cm

Material

rattan; Wood