'Rare and unique' Mackintosh chairs to be sold at auction

Oak dining chairs designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh are to be auctioned live, with the bidding starting at £15,000 for a pair.

There are two sets of the chairs which were specially made for the architect and designer’s friend William Douglas, a house-painter and wallpaper hanger, in 1910.

The two met in Glasgow after Mr Douglas moved from Blairgowrie in Perthshire. Working from premises in West George Street, he built up his business and was employed to work on Mackintosh’s Hous’hill in Nitshill and Miss Cranston’s home among other projects.

Originally part of a set of six and upholstered in horsehair fabric, the chairs were designed the year after the artist completed the second phase of the Glasgow School of Art.

Stained oak dining chairs, specially designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for his friend William Douglas (Lyon & Turnbull)

John Mackie, a director at Lyon & Turnbull and a specialist in design of the time, said: “The sale represents a rare opportunity to purchase scarce original furniture designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

“Only six of these chairs were made and their design demonstrates Mackintosh’s skill in transforming traditional vernacular forms into something new”.

Bidding for the chairs will start at £15,000 for each pair at the live auction on Thursday, April 22.

Last October, a bedside cabinet by Mackintosh was sold by Lyon & Turnbull for £250,000 after an intense international bidding battle.