Six items of miniature seating furniture, comprising a centre sofa (ottoman), a chaise longue, two armchairs and two footstools.Six models of seating furniture, comprising a centre sofa (ottoman), a chaise longue, two armchairs and two footstools.Models of a buttoned centre sofa (ottoman) and an armchair
About 1860–80
Made by Albert Bentley (1842–1928)
England (probably London)
Frames: softwood and mahogany
Feet: brass
Upholstery (original): glazed linen and wadding under upholstery, with silk damask and trimmings
Given by Miss F. Bentley
Museum no. W.13&B-1934
These seats were made by an upholsterer who worked for various London firms from about 1860. He probably made them as a demonstration of his trade skills and knowledge. Unlike most 19th-century seats they have never been reupholstered and so preserve the original appearance of fashionable buttoning.
[01/12/2012]This group of miniature furniture comprises a centre sofa (circular ottoman), a <i>chaise longue</i> (French term for an elongated chair), two armchairs and two footstools.
They were given to the V&A by the daughter of an upholsterer named Albert Bentley. The museum was keen to accept them because of the difficulty of finding full-sized pieces of this type which had retained their original upholstery. Unlike most full-sized nineteenth-century seats they have never been reupholstered and so preserve their original fashionable crimson upholstery and deep buttoning.
Bentley had been employed by various firms from about 1860 and worked at Buckingham Palace and Marlborough House. He probably made these objects to demonstrate his skill, and they were displayed in a glass case in his London home.