The Seat of Power

Luke Irwin's First Furniture Design

Award winning rug designer Luke Irwin and master cabinet makers Little Halstock have come together to design and create “The Seat of Power”, pieces designed to start a dialogue and initiate discussion or commentary on the changing nature of power.

The chairs are Luke Irwin’s first foray into furniture design and the very first in a series of collaborations from Little Halstock. Both pieces haves English Burr Oak frames, based on the hammer and sickle of the Russian flag. The seats are of Irish linen, printed with designs aimed to inspire and provoke debate. Each limited-edition piece is handmade by Little Halstock in their Somerset workshops.

The initial design, The Seat of Power Politics, incorporates the Doves and Stripes rug Luke Irwin designed in 2008 and which was given to President Obama on the occasion of his inauguration as a gift from the Irish nation. Here, a mere ten years on, the same design takes on another incarnation as viewed through the lens of the Trump presidency. This first piece sets up a dialogue about political power and it is the beginning of a series of chairs examining different areas of power.

This first piece sets up a dialogue about political power and it is the beginning of a series of chairs examining different areas of power.

Above: Seat of Power Politics (left) 

My vision for the Seat of Power is to use it as a crucible for discussion and conversation around our perceptions of power. The conversation piece contains the conversation. – Luke Irwin

The second chair, The Seat of Power Media, sets up a conversation about the changing power of the press in an era of fake news. Luke Irwin and Little Halstock have other pieces under development, with the aim of prompting discussion around such politically pertinent issues as the #MeToo new female power phenomenon and the broader subjects of money, religion and gender.

Our ambition is to create a small collection of exceptional and unexpected items from designers working outside of their usual media. Luke was an obvious choice for the first collaboration, the whole process has been an absolute pleasure and the Seat of Power perfectly embodies the unbridled imagination and skill of one of the UK’s leading design talents. 
– Alex West, Managing Director of Little Halstock

History and culture inform everything Luke designs; the past’s impact on contemporary aesthetics is his unique calling card. Based on everything from original textiles to crop-circles and architecture, many of his designs have gone on to win International design awards, in particular the Mosaic, IKAT and Fresco & Nimbus collections.

Above: Seat of Power Media (left)

Each chair is hand made to order and is an edition of five. Minimum 8 week lead time. Price: £15,000 (including VAT).

All enquiries to shop@lukeirwin.com.