Octagonal Table and Chairs

This table with eight chairs was designed for 120 Pall Mall in 1928. The building was designed as a showroom and offices for Crane Bennett Limited, a manufacturer of top quality baths and plumbing, and as such was one of Lutyens's relatively few ventures into designing commercial premises.

The table and chairs were intended for the boardroom, and the originals were photographed in place shortly after completion of the building. At what point they disappeared or where they are now is not clear, as the building has been refitted several times since the war.

Lutyens also used the design earlier for New Delhi though with subtle differences to the chair.  As well as the octagon, he used the concept in New Delhi as a four-seater in the round.

The design of this set of furniture is very characteristic both of Lutyens's delight in 'games' in the way the chairs fit flush with each other as well as with the sides of the table, and his love and manipulation of geometric shapes as evidenced by the interlocking circles forming the chair backs.  When closed, the table and chairs resemble a giant, ornate music box!

The octagonal table is made from walnut with a panelled veneered top designed in such a way that the grain direction of the surface describes the surface underneath. Each chair, with its fretted back and front panel is also in walnut with a cane seat.

Whilst working very well as a set, the chairs can also be used as stand alone “consoles” against a wall.

The Octagonal table and chairs can also be made in Oak, Teak or Cedar with a slatted tabletop and chair seats for outdoor use.

We have drawn but not realised a double version of the table for indoor or outdoor use.  This design incorporates two triangular leaf inserts to create a table seating twelve or two separate tables seating sixteen.

Octagonal table & chairs tear sheet