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Christie, Robert & Archibald Haswell (1871-1916)

Christie, Robert & Archibald Haswell

London; cabinet maker and upholsterer, house furnisher, designer (fl.1871-1916)

Born in Roxburgh c. 1834, Robert Christie’s father was a japanner. By 1861 Robert was recorded living in Marylebone, London working as a cabinet maker and his business was listed at 39 George Street, Portman Square in the 1871 Kelly’s Post Office Directory. The census 1881 listed Christie, his wife, and two sons, Robert (b. 1869) and Archibald Haswell (b. 1871) living at 15 Hamilton Terrace, St John’s Wood; the household also included Robert snr.’s two sisters in law, one domestic servant and a ‘caretaker of the studio’. Ten years later Robert still recorded as cabinet maker whilst Robert jnr. is described as an artist portrait painter and Archibald H. as artist designer. 

On the 21 August 1880, The Furniture Gazette announced that Robert Christie was one of three London firms commissioned to supply 'the furniture for the new palatial yacht built for the Emperor of Russia'. He was responsible for the construction and decoration of the interior of the great state saloon. This included large settees upholstered in a 'creamy white colour, slightly relieved in gold'; an architecturally designed sideboard 'consisting of a centre and two wings, the wings being formed of double Ionic columns. The centre portion of the sideboard is surmounted by the Imperial arms, surmounted on either side by figures and conventional foliage festoons, &c., delicately carved in wood'. He also supplied tables and chairs for '50 sitters... covered with French silk tapestry', small settees, ornamental side tables, easy chairs, etc. The walls were covered with French tapestry 'of a low-toned white background studded with foliage [and] the windows [were] draped with crimson plush and heavy fringes of the same colour'. The ‘impressive’ saloon chairs were supplied at a price of £40 each [The Cabinet Maker, Vol. 1, 1880].

Christie was described in 1883 as ‘... the high class and somewhat exclusive trade carried on by that well known house furnisher’.

The Furniture Gazette, 23 February 1884, reported Christie’s participation in The Exhibition of Furniture, Royal School of Needlework, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, 1884; his display included Chippendale & Sheraton style furniture. In this same year Christie was recorded as importing a collection of Japanese wallpapers, some derived from French & Italian Renaissance styles [The Furniture Gazette, 19 July 1884]. 

At the Edinburgh International Exhibition, 1886, he received a gold medal diploma for his chairs [The Furniture Gazette, 1 December 1886]. 

In 1891 Christie, of 102 George Street, received a commission from Mr. Alexander Henderson to furnish some Empire rooms at Buscot Park, which probably included a writing table and chairs; illus. Agius (1978), p.37. & Payne (2023), p. 437.

His second son, Archibald Haswell Christie became a successful designer of interiors, and sometimes listed as an architect.  He exhibited at the Arts & Crafts Society Exhibitions, 1896, 1899 and 1912; this was often in association with his wife, Grace, a talented needlewoman, and included furniture made by his father. 

Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society, London, 1896-1916

The following exhibits were all designed by A.H. Christie:

1896 – an iron four-post bedstead with curtains and valances, executed by Shirley & Co. and exhibited by Robert Christie (cat. no. 349). The index of this catalogue records Robert Christie's address as 102 George Street, Portman Square.

1899 – silks (88 & 117), wallpaper (641)  

1912 – sketches for posters in cut paper (186, 187, 188)

1916 -

Room 6 (322) 

an octagonal vestibule, with stencilled decoration, designed and executed by A.H. Christie, exhibited by A.H. Christie and F.W. Troup. Furniture included a pair of ebony tables, carved and inlaid with engraved pearl and brass, made by Robert Christie (322a.,b.), rosewood inlaid workbox, made by Robert Christie (322d.), circular light hanging made by the late A.J. Shirley (322f.), pair of painted mirror frames (322i.). Also of note two pairs of brass sconces designed by Ernest Gimson (322e.).  

Room 7 (323) 

a bedroom for a small country house; inlaid oak furniture, painted chairs and bedstead, white embroidered hangings, designed and arranged by Mr & Mrs Archibald H. Christie and F.W. Troup. The furniture included an iron bestead decorated by Mrs A.H. Christie and made by the late A.J. Shirley (323a.), a large oak wardrobe (323b.), small oak wardrobe (323c.), oak washstand with green marble top (323d.), oak chest of drawers (323e.), mirror with mahogany frame (323f.), mahogany towel horse made by Robert Christie (323g.), clock with shagreen and metal mounts made by Robert Christie (323l.). Also of note an English walnut table made by Sidney H. Barnsley (323h.) and an English walnut chair made by Ernest Gimson (323i.). 

Grace, wife of Archibald H., was talented needlewoman, whose work was exhibited at the Arts & Crafts Exhibition, London, 1903-1916.  Her address, 1906-12, was recorded as Park Corner, Ewell, Surrey.

Robert snr. was still listed as a cabinet maker (employer), aged 88 in the 1921 census and he died in 1924. Archibald Haswell Christie was described in census 1911 and 1921 as an Inspector of Art Schools, L.C.C.

Sources: Arts & Crafts Exhibition catalogues, 1888-1916; Agius, British Furniture 1880-1915 (1978); FHS Newsletter (May, 2021); Payne, British Furniture 1820-1920: The Luxury Market (2023).