Chair, Armchair: Ottawa Mayor's Chair, Fred Cook, 1876-1903
Entry/Object ID
E74
Description
One carved wooden balloon-backed armchair complete with buttoned and padded black leather upholstered back, seat and arms with horsehair stuffing. The back is also leather-covered. The carved crest rail on the back of the seat is decorated with carved shamrocks, roses, thistles, oak leaves and a sheaf of wheat; all symbols representing the British Isles. The chair has carved cabriole legs and apron on the front and uncarved cabriole legs on the rear. The chair is of oversized proportions complete with a
high back and broad seat and has been fitted with circular carved walnut pads under the feet likely replacing the original casters. This chair was used by successive mayors of Ottawa from 1876 until 1903.
Made/Created
Date made
1876
Notes
Quantity produced: 1
Additional create date: 1903
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Armchair
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Chair
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Seating Furniture
Nomenclature Class
Furniture
Nomenclature Category
Category 02: Furnishings
Search Terms
Chair, Chair, Furnishings
Legacy Lexicon
Object Name
Chair, Armchair
Dimensions
Height
157.5 cm
Width
79 cm
Depth
97 cm
Material
Wood, Leather, ferrous metal, varnish
Research Notes
Notes
This chair was used by Ottawa mayors between 1876 and 1903. The chair back is decorated with carved shamrocks, roses, thistles, oak leaves and a sheaf of wheat all symbols representing the British Isles. The last mayor to use it was Fred Cook (1858-1943), who was mayor between 1902 and 1903. The chair was gifted to Mr. Cook by Ottawa City Council following his term in office and Mr. Cook, in turn, gifted it to the new Bytown Museum in 1917. The chair was intended for Evelyn Cavendish, the Duchess of
Devonshire and the Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa's patroness, to use during the opening ceremony of the Bytown Museum in 1917. Unfortunately, the Duchess of Devonshire fell ill and Mayor Harold Fisher opened the Bytown Historical Museum at 4 o'clock on October 25, 1917.
