Two beautifully restored Heal’s armchairs, bringing the sweeping curves of 1930s design together with the graphic richness of antique Malian mud cloth. An exceptional pairing of furniture and textile, with craftsmanship running right through—from the bentwood frames to the natural materials beneath the upholstery.
The frames describe generous, continuous curves, sweeping from the arms towards the floor and returning beneath the seats. Viewed from the side, they have the pleasing economy of a line drawn with very few interruptions. Warm exposed wood outlines the dark upholstery, while open sides give the chairs a visual lightness that belies their sculptural presence. They are also attractively compact: proper armchairs that understand a room may have other commitments.
Dating from the 1930s, they belong to a particularly interesting period in Heal’s history. Under Sir Ambrose Heal, the company helped introduce modern design into British homes, championing furniture that combined practical thinking with accomplished craftsmanship. Its embrace of Art Deco and continental modernism offered a fresh approach to domestic interiors. These chairs capture that spirit through their flowing geometry, restrained construction and clear sense of purpose.
Their restoration has been extensive. The old paint has been stripped away to reveal the timber, and the tired upholstery removed entirely, back to the bare frame. Both chairs have then been expertly reupholstered using natural materials: a latex-bound coir base with wool and cotton blend filling. The work beneath the cloth has received the same attention as the finish above it.
The covering is antique mud cloth from Mali, known as bògòlanfini, a textile tradition closely associated with Bamana culture. Traditionally, narrow strips of handwoven cotton are stitched together before being decorated through a painstaking process involving plant preparations and mud. Its patterns belong to a rich visual language, with meanings shaped by their makers and cultural context.
Here, pale marks stand out against a deep brown-black ground: stepped lines, dots, bars and branching forms, arranged with extraordinary graphic assurance. Look closely and the cloth reveals its woven texture, joined strips and small variations in the drawn motifs. These details give the pattern its life. The antique textile has also been reinforced with internal stitching for its new role as upholstery, preserving its character while strengthening its construction.
The cloth continues across the backs, making the chairs particularly rewarding to place within a room rather than against a wall. Their curved wooden frames and angular textile patterns bring out the best in one another: long, fluid lines around a field of lively geometry.
A distinctive pair, thoughtfully restored for a new chapter. British interwar furniture and Malian textile artistry meet here with remarkable ease—and neither gets lost in the introduction.
Condition
Excellent restored condition. The wooden frames have been stripped of old paint, and both chairs have been completely reupholstered with natural materials. The antique mud cloth retains the variations in weave, colour and stitching characteristic of a handmade historic textile.
Dimensions — each chair
Width 54.5 cm
Back height 76 cm
Seat height 39 cm
Depth 69 cm
Delivery
These chairs require specialist delivery. Please contact us with your postcode for a delivery quotation before purchasing.
Price is per chair.
