What is a Morris Chair?
A Morris chair is an early recliner named for the founder of the company that invented it, William Morris and Company. The chair was first popular during the Victorian era in England, but was later adapted into the popular Mission and Arts and Crafts design movements. Morris chairs remain popular in modern design for their easily convertible look and style. In 1861, English poet, painter and social reformer William Morris formed a design corporation that would come to be commonly known as Morris and Company. The company emphasized home craftsmanship, rather than the factory produced work that had become prevalent during the British Industrial revolution. Their designs featured hand-dyed and woven fabrics and hand-carved woods. The Morris chair was originally introduced in 1866, and photographs exist of a Morris chair in William Morris’ own home. It is believed to have been reproduced from a prototype version owned by Ephraim Colfax of Sussex, England. The signature feature of the chair
