THEIR MOST OBEDIENT SERVANT (2018)
Harewood House Yorkshire
March 23rd March – 2nd September 2018
A two-part installation celebrating and interrogating Harewood’s Chippendale collection.
Geraldine Pilgrim was asked to consider the relationship between a finished piece of Chippendale furniture and its original material, wood. Seeing the furniture, Pilgrim remarked: “…the materials from which they are made can be forgotten or not realised what the source of these masterpieces actually is - very simply a tree.”
Root and Branch was set in the Terrace Gallery, and laid bare the connection between the grandest finished piece of furniture and the natural energy and material of its living source material; wood.
Family Tree occupied the centre of the Courtyard (the 18th century stables) is an opportunity for Geraldine Pilgrim to re-imagine a previous installation to connect with Chippendale, his family, his craft, and imaginings: Thomas Chippendale, inspired by his love of wood, dreaming of his own family tree. Family Tree was in situ through November 2018.
Jane Marriott, the Director of Harewood House Trust said “Geraldine’s work brought a totally fresh perspective to the way our audiences see and think about our Chippendale collection and these two wonderful installations are definitely capturing their imagination.”
“Their Most Obedient servant…“ is the term used by Thomas Chippendale at the end of his introduction to his ground-breaking furniture design catalogue, The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director, which helped establish his business and international reputation.
March 23rd March – 2nd September 2018
A two-part installation celebrating and interrogating Harewood’s Chippendale collection.
Geraldine Pilgrim was asked to consider the relationship between a finished piece of Chippendale furniture and its original material, wood. Seeing the furniture, Pilgrim remarked: “…the materials from which they are made can be forgotten or not realised what the source of these masterpieces actually is - very simply a tree.”
Root and Branch was set in the Terrace Gallery, and laid bare the connection between the grandest finished piece of furniture and the natural energy and material of its living source material; wood.
Family Tree occupied the centre of the Courtyard (the 18th century stables) is an opportunity for Geraldine Pilgrim to re-imagine a previous installation to connect with Chippendale, his family, his craft, and imaginings: Thomas Chippendale, inspired by his love of wood, dreaming of his own family tree. Family Tree was in situ through November 2018.
Jane Marriott, the Director of Harewood House Trust said “Geraldine’s work brought a totally fresh perspective to the way our audiences see and think about our Chippendale collection and these two wonderful installations are definitely capturing their imagination.”
“Their Most Obedient servant…“ is the term used by Thomas Chippendale at the end of his introduction to his ground-breaking furniture design catalogue, The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director, which helped establish his business and international reputation.
