Members may wish to note the forthcoming exhibition at the Museum of the Home:

Splats and Spindles: Six English Regional Chairs

Did you know that country chairs have their own language?

For centuries, across the different regions of England, people made chairs for everyday use based on local traditions, using timber and other materials readily available in the area. The craftmanship and design that informed regional chairmaking was passed from generation to generation, and distinct features formed unique chairmaking dialects associated with each region. 

Visitors will get up close with six chairs from the Bernard and Geraldine Cotton Chair Collection and Archive, most of which have not been on display for 20 years. Each chair links to a different region, where you will learn the stories of both celebrated and lesser-known makers, discover how everyday furniture can reflect local history and gain insight into Dr Bernard and Geraldine Cotton’s work.

This display is made possible with funding from the Regional Furniture Society and The Bernard and Geraldine Cotton Fund.

Date

Opens Tuesday 12 May 2026

Where

Undercroft, Home Galleries, Museum of the Home 

136 Kingsland Road E2 8EA

Price

Free